Army Renames Calabar Barracks After Late COAS Attahiru
The Nigerian Army has renamed Akim Barracks, Headquarters 13 Brigade, Calabar, Cross River State, after the late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, in recognition of his exemplary service, leadership and ultimate sacrifice in defence of Nigeria.
The renaming ceremony was performed on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his operational visit to Cross River State.
The facility has been renamed Ibrahim Attahiru Barracks as part of efforts to immortalise the late Army Chief and preserve his contributions to the Nigerian Army and the country’s security.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu described the gesture as a deliberate act of remembrance and an affirmation of the institutional values that define the Nigerian Army.
He said the late Attahiru demonstrated courage, professional competence, discipline and selfless commitment to duty, particularly during a challenging period in Nigeria’s security history when the military confronted complex and evolving threats.
The COAS noted that although Attahiru’s tenure was brief, his commitment to operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, professionalism and troop morale remained an enduring source of inspiration within the Army.
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He added that immortalising the late General, who once commanded the barracks, was more than an effort to preserve his memory, describing it as 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 represented by the honour through discipline, integrity, exemplary leadership and operational excellence.
He also urged them to strengthen relationships with host communities and maintain the highest standards of military conduct while building a well-trained, adequately equipped and highly motivated force capable of fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency operational environment.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 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 Army Chief.
Fadiero said the gesture would strengthen institutional pride and boost the morale of personnel serving in the Division.
The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, also paid tribute to the late General, describing his life as an enduring example of exemplary leadership, humility and patriotism worthy of emulation, particularly by members of the Armed Forces.
In her remarks, the wife of the late General, Mrs Fatima Attahiru, expressed appreciation to the COAS and the Nigerian Army for the recognition, describing the honour 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.
By PRNigeria
