The Nigerian Army has officially renamed Akim Barracks, the headquarters of the 13 Brigade in Calabar, Cross River State, after the late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru. The honour recognises Attahiru's exceptional service, exemplary leadership and ultimate sacrifice in defence of the country. The renaming ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, when the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, performed the renaming on behalf of President Bola Tinubu during his operational visit to Cross River State. A statement by Army Headquarters said the gesture acknowledged Attahiru's distinguished contributions to national security and military professionalism.
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 general exemplified courage, professional competence, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, particularly during a challenging period in the country's security history when the Army faced complex and evolving threats. Although his tenure as COAS was brief, Shaibu said Attahiru's commitment to operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, professionalism and the fighting spirit of troops continued to resonate within the Army. He noted that immortalising the late military chief, who once commanded the barracks, went beyond preserving his memory, as it established a lasting connection between the Army's heritage and the responsibilities of present and future generations of military personnel.
The COAS charged officers and soldiers of 13 Brigade to reflect the honour through exemplary leadership, discipline, integrity, operational excellence and stronger relationships with the communities they were deployed to protect. He further urged them to uphold the highest standards of military conduct and contribute to building a well-trained, adequately equipped and highly motivated force capable of discharging its constitutional responsibilities.
Earlier, Major General Ayobami Fadairo, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Task Force South East, Operation Udoka, commended the COAS for his commitment to troop welfare and the decision to immortalise the late general. He said the gesture would strengthen institutional pride and boost the morale of personnel serving in the division.
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, also paid tribute to the late military chief, describing his life as an enduring example of exemplary leadership, humility and patriotism worthy of emulation, particularly by military personnel.
In her remarks, Mrs Fatima Attahiru, the wife of the late general, thanked 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.