By AFPMore by this AuthorABUJA,The Nigerian Army has appointed a new commander to lead the fight against Boko Haram jihadists in the country's restive northeast, where attacks on military targets have spiked in recent months. Major General Benson Akinroluyo has replaced Major General Abba Dikko as head of Operation Lafiya Dole, according to an army statement released at the weekend. Since then there have been at least nine attacks on military bases, most of them in the northern part of Borno state near the shores of Lake Chad. Most have been blamed on or claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an IS-backed faction of Boko Haram whose recent activities have prompted speculation the group has been taken over by hardliners. Despite government insistence that Boko Haram is near defeat, northeastern Nigeria is still hit by regular attacks.

Source: Daily Nation November 12, 2018 10:41 UTC