Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Brigadier General Ahmad Mansur Dikko has formally assumed command as the 18th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State.
He took over from Brigadier General Hassan Muhammad Bello during a colourful handing-over ceremony held on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Mazinho Attah.
The statement said that the ceremony, a key tradition of the Nigerian Army, drew senior officers of the Brigade, including the Chief of Staff, Commanding Officers, Staff Officers, and the Regimental Sergeant Major, highlighting the importance of the change in leadership.
In his valedictory remarks, the outgoing Commander, Brigadier General Bello, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu (NAM), for the privilege to serve.
He praised officers and soldiers of the Brigade for their loyalty, professionalism, and teamwork, noting that these virtues underpinned the successes recorded during his tenure. He urged personnel to accord his successor the same level of cooperation and support.
In his maiden address, Brigadier General Dikko pledged to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and teamwork.
He assured troops of his commitment to consolidating existing gains and repositioning the Brigade in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy.
“There is no organisation that encapsulates the philosophy of life like the Nigerian Army,” he said, stressing that timeliness and discipline remain critical to projecting the Brigade, the Army, and the nation in a positive light.
Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of a souvenir by the incoming Commander to the outgoing Commander in recognition of his successful tour of duty, as well as the presentation of a plaque by the Commander, 14 Brigade Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Ango.
The event climaxed with the symbolic lowering of Brigadier General Bello’s command flag and the hoisting of Brigadier General Dikko’s flag, formally signifying the transfer of authority.
A group photograph and farewell address to troops rounded off the ceremony.
The seamless transition once again underscored the Brigade’s enduring tradition of discipline, continuity, and operational readiness within the Nigerian Army.
