By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Army has renamed Akim Barracks, Headquarters 13 Brigade, Calabar, Cross River State, as Ibrahim Attahiru Barracks in honour of the late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, in recognition of his service, leadership and ultimate sacrifice in defence of the nation.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, performed the renaming ceremony on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during his operational visit to Cross River State, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the gesture was aimed at preserving the memory of the late Army Chief and recognising his contributions to the Nigerian Army and the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu described the renaming as a deliberate act of remembrance and an enduring affirmation of the institutional values that define the Nigerian Army.
He said the late Attahiru exemplified courage, professional competence, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, particularly during a challenging period in the nation’s security history when the military faced complex and evolving threats.
The COAS noted that although Attahiru’s tenure was brief, his commitment to operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, professionalism and the fighting spirit of troops continued to resonate within the Nigerian Army.
He stressed that immortalising the late General, who once commanded the barracks, went beyond preserving his memory, adding that it established a lasting connection between the Army’s heritage and the responsibilities of present and future generations of military personnel.
Shaibu charged officers and soldiers of 13 Brigade to uphold the values associated with the late Army Chief through exemplary leadership, discipline, integrity, operational excellence and stronger relationships with the communities they are mandated to protect.
He further urged the troops to remain committed to building a well-trained, adequately equipped and highly motivated force capable of discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency operational environment.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDOK, Major General Ayobami Fadiero, commended the COAS for his commitment to troop welfare and the decision to immortalise the late General.
Fadiero said the gesture would strengthen institutional pride and boost the morale of personnel serving in the Division.
Also speaking, the Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, represented by his Deputy, Dr Peter Odey, described the late Attahiru’s life as an enduring example of leadership, humility and patriotism worthy of emulation, particularly by military personnel.
In her remarks, the wife of the late General, Mrs Fatima Attahiru, expressed appreciation to the COAS and the Nigerian Army for the honour, describing it as a lasting source of pride and comfort to the family.
The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, government officials, members of the late General’s family and residents of the barracks community.
