The Nigerian Army has renamed Akim Barracks, the headquarters of the 13 Brigade in Calabar, Cross River State, after late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, in recognition of his service and sacrifice to the country.

The renaming ceremony was conducted on Tuesday by the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, during an operational visit to Cross River State.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the facility would henceforth be known as Ibrahim Attahiru Barracks.

Shaibu, who performed the ceremony on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, said the honour was a recognition of the late general’s exceptional military service, exemplary leadership and ultimate sacrifice in defence of the nation.

He described the decision as a deliberate effort to immortalise Attahiru and preserve the institutional values that define the Nigerian Army.

According to him, the late military chief demonstrated courage, discipline, professional competence and unwavering dedication to duty, particularly during a difficult period in Nigeria’s security history.

The COAS acknowledged that although Attahiru’s tenure was relatively short, his commitment to operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, military professionalism and troop morale remained an enduring source of inspiration within the Armed Forces.

He further explained that naming the barracks after the late general, who once commanded the facility, was more than an act of remembrance, as it would establish a lasting connection between the Army’s history and the responsibilities of serving and future generations of military personnel.

Shaibu urged officers and soldiers of the 13 Brigade to uphold the late general’s values by demonstrating exemplary leadership, discipline, integrity and operational excellence while maintaining cordial relationships with the communities they protect.

He also challenged the troops to work towards building a well-trained, adequately equipped and motivated military force capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities.

In her reaction, Fatima Attahiru, wife of the late general, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army and the COAS for the recognition, describing it as a lasting source of pride and comfort to the family.

Similarly, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 82 Division and Commander of the Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udoka, Ayobami Fadiero, praised Shaibu for prioritising troop welfare and immortalising the late military chief.

Fadiero said the gesture would strengthen institutional pride and improve the morale of personnel serving in the division.

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, also described Attahiru as an embodiment of exemplary leadership, humility and patriotism, urging Nigerians, particularly military personnel, to emulate his values.

Attahiru died on May 21, 2021, alongside other military personnel when a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed near the Kaduna International Airport.

The ceremony attracted the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, senior military officers, government officials, members of the late general’s family and residents of the barracks community, marking another effort by the Nigerian Army to preserve the legacy of one of its former service chiefs.