The 1st Division is a

formation Formation may refer to: Linguistics * Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes Mathematics and science * Cave formation or speleothem, a secondar ...

of the

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). The Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army. History Formation The Nigerian ...

. It was established during the

Nigerian civil war The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...

and is charged with securing its area of responsibility covering the North Western flank of

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

and also ensuring that the borders located in its AOR are secured. The division is a mechanized infantry with affiliated combat support and combat service support units.

History

In August–September 1967, 1 Area Command at

Kaduna Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nige ...

was predesignated 1 Infantry Division, and 2 Division was formed under Colonel

Murtala Mohammed Murtala Ramat Muhammad (8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976) was a Nigerian general who led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi military regime and featured prominently during the Nigerian Civil War ...

. At the end of the Civil War, the three divisions of the army were reorganized into four divisions, with each controlling territories running from North to South, with each division having access to the sea. This was later abandoned in favor of the assignment of sectors to the divisions.

Divisional components

* Division Headquarters (

) * 241st Recce Battalion ( Nguru) * 1st Mechanised Brigade (

Sokoto Sokoto is a major city located in extreme northwestern Nigeria, near the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of over 427,760. Sokoto is the modern-day capital of Sokoto State and was previously the ...

) * 65th Mechanised Battalion * 81st Motorised Battalion * 223rd Light Battalion * 3rd Brigade (Kano) * 41st Division Engineers * a signals formation of brigade size * 31st Artillery Brigade The existence of 3rd Brigade at Kano was corroborated by a May 2015 report of 1,000 soldiers dismissed "for allegedly disobeying orders during onslaughts against Boko Haram militants in the North-east." 17 Brigade began its formation in late 2017, and was officially established on 20 February 2018 for internal security duties. It became part of 1 Division.

Commanders

*Colonel

Mohammed Shuwa Mohammed Shuwa (1 September 1939 – 2 November 2012) was a Nigerian Army Major General and the first General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army's 1st Division. Shuwa commanded the Nigerian Army's 1st Division during the Nigerian Civil Wa ...

(August 1967-September 1969) *Brigadier Illiya Bisalla (September 1969-December 1973) *Brigadier I.B. Haruna (December 1973-July 1975) *Major General

Ipoola Alani Akinrinade Ipoola Alani Akinrinade (born 3 October 1939) is a retired Nigerian Army lieutenant general, who was Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigeria from October 1979 to April 1980, and then Chief of Defence Staff until 1981 during the Nigerian Second Repu ...

(August 1975-January 1978) *Brigadier

Domkat Bali Domkat Yah Bali (27 February 1940 – 4 December 2020) was a Nigerian army four-star general, who was Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff from 1984 to 1990, and a member of the Supreme Military Council of 1984–1985, and the Armed ...

(January 1978-September 1978) *Brigadier P.A. Eromobor (September 1978-September 1979) *Major General

George Agbazika Innih George Agbazika Innih (25 September 1938 – 15 August 2002) was a Nigerian Army general and statesman. He was the military governor of Bendel and Kwara States. Early years George Agbazika Innih was born on September 25, 1938, at Agenebode, ...

(October 1979-April 1980) *Major General

David Jemibewon David Medayese Jemibewon (born 20 July 1940) is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as military governor of the now defunct Western State (August 1975 – March 1976) during the military regime of General Murtala Muhammed, governor ...

(January 1980-November 1981) *Major General A.D. Aduloju (January 1981-August 1983) *Major General H.A. Hananiya (August 1983-January 1984) *Brigadier J.O. Oni (January 1984-September 1985) *Major General P.I. Adomokhai (September 1985-October 1988) *Major General M.S. Sami (October 1988-January 1990) *Major General

Ike Nwachukwu Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu mni (born 1 September 1940) is a retired Army officer and Nigerian politician who served twice as Foreign Minister of Nigeria and as a Senator in the National Assembly delegation from Abia State. Education and train ...

(January 1990-September 1990) *Major General A.A. Abubakar (September 1990-November 1991) *Brigadier General A.M. Daku (November 1991-January 1993) *Brigadier General

John Nanzip Shagaya John Nanzip Shagaya (Danburam Langtang II) (2 September 1942 – 11 February 2018) was a Nigerian senator and former military officer who was elected in April 2007 to represent the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State as member of t ...

(January 1993-September 1993) *Brigadier General

Chris Alli Mohammed Chris Alli (born December 1944) is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as Chief of Army Staff from 1993 to 1994 under General Sani Abacha's regime and was military governor of Plateau State Nigeria from August 1985 to 1986 ...

(September 1993-December 1993) *Brigadier General

Alwali Kazir Alwali Jauji Kazir CFR (born 2 August 1947) is a retired Nigerian Army Major General who was Military Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria from December 1989 to January 1992 during the military regime of Major General Ibrahim Babangida. And then Ch ...

(December 1993-August 1994) *Brigadier General A.A. Abdullahi (September 1994-April 1996) *Brigadier General M.O. Sule (April-July 1996) *Major General M.O. Sule (July 1996-December 1996) *Major General A.S. Mukhtar (December 1996-June 1999) *Major General

Alexander Ogomudia Alexander Odeareduo Ogomudia (born 29 December 1949) is a retired Nigerian army general who served as Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 and Chief of Army Staff from 2001 to 2003. Biography The Nigerian Army officially des ...

(1 July 1999-April 2001) *Major General D.R.A. Ndefo (1 May-August 2002) *Major General S.A. Asemota (August 2002-January 2005) *Major General O.A. Azazi (January 2005-July 2006) *Major General L.O. Jokotola (July 2006-2007) *Major General M.B. Obi * Major General K.A. Role (2008-2010) *Major General Shoboiki (2010-2012) *Major General G.A. Wahab (2012-2014) *Major General K.C. Osuji (2014–2015) *Major General A. Oyebade (2015- 2017) *Major General M. Mohammed (October 2017-2018) *Major General

Faruk Yahaya Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (born 5 January 1966) is a Nigerian army lieutenant general, who is the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 27 May 2021 after the death of the former Chief of Army Staff, ...

(2018-2021)

External links

Nigeria Army official website

References

{{Army of Nigeria units Army units and formations of Nigeria Military units and formations established in 1967