Nigeria has appointed Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar as the new commander in its ongoing battle against insurgency in the northeast, following a resurgence of attacks over the past four months that have resulted in numerous civilian and military casualties in the area.
According to Reuben Kovangiya, the spokesperson for the operation, Abubakar is the 15th commander tasked with addressing the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency. His prior experience includes serving as the deputy commandant of the Nigerian Defence College and leading a significant security operation in north-central Nigeria.
Recent weeks have seen an uptick in assaults by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province, raising concerns about a potential resurgence of these extremist groups, which have begun employing armed drones and roadside explosives, as noted by security analysts.
On Tuesday, ISWAP claimed responsibility for an attack in Borno state that resulted in at least 26 fatalities, as reported in a statement on Telegram. The insurgents have been engaged in conflict with security forces in the northeast for over 15 years, frequently utilizing improvised explosive devices against both civilians and military personnel. The army has not attributed the new leadership appointment to the recent increase in violence.
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Borno state governor Babangida Zulum expressed concern this month, stating that the ongoing Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in various communities, occurring almost daily without any confrontation, indicate that Borno State is losing ground.