The new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruq Yahaya, was born on 5th January 1966 at Sifawa, present-day Bodinga Local Government Area of Zamfara State. He gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, as member of 37 Regular course on 27th September 1985 and graduated on 22nd September 1990 and posted to Infantry. He speaks Arabic, English language, Hausa and Spanish fluently.
He holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History and Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
He has always been promoted as at when due;
Lieutenant 27th September 1990
Captain 27th September 1994
Major 27th September 1998.
Lieutenant Colonel 27th September 2003.
Colonel 27th September 2008
Brigadier General 27th September 2013
Major General 27th September 2017.
Appointments held include:
Platoon Commander 181 Mechanised Battalion.
Platoon Commander 82 Mechanised Battalion.
Company Second in Command 81 Battalion.
Aide de Camp to Kano State Administrator.
Company Second in Command 20 Battalion
Commanding Officer 7 Battalion.
General Staff Officer Grade 2 Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations (Field Exercises).
Staff Officer Grade 2 (Administration) Headquarters Guards Brigade.
Staff Officer Grade 1 Headquarters Guards Brigade.
Garrison Commander, Guards Brigade.
Directing Staff, Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
Deputy Director Military Secretary 3, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
Deputy Director Military Secretary 2, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
Deputy Director Research and Development, Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans.
Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Operation Pulo Shield.
Deputy Military Secretary 1, Department of Military Secretary (Army).
Principal General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence.
Commander 4 Brigade Nigerian Army.
Commander 29 Task Force Brigade, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
Director Manpower, Army Headquarters Department of Administration.
Military Secretary (Army), Department of Military Secretary (Army).
General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army.
Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI.
He has attended the following courses:
Young Officers Course Infantry.
Machine Gun Officers Course.
Air Defence Platoon Commanders Course.
Basic Range Management Course.
Junior Course.
Company Commanders Course.
Senior Course.
Commanding Officers Course.
National Defence Course in Chile.
He is well decorated with so many honours and awards as follows:
Forces Service Star (FSS).
Meritorious Service Star (MSS).
Distinguished Service Star (DSS).
Grand Service Star (GSS).
Passed Staff Course Dagger (+).
Fellow National Defence College Chile.
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group Medal (ECOMOG Medal).
Command Medal (CM).
Field Command Medal (FCM).
General Operations Medal (GOM).
Silver Jubilee Medal (SJM).
Golden Jubilee Medal (GJM).
He is happily married and the marriage is blessed with 4 children. At his leisure, he enjoys reading ,travelling, cracking jokes and listening to local music.