International
Maj Gen Abbah to lead regional fight against Boko Haram
Major General Iliya Abbah has been named the new commander of the regional multinational task force to fight Boko Haram Islamists.
Nigerian military spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade, said on Thursday that Maj Gen Abbah, who previously commanded military operations in the oil-rich Niger Delta, will head the new force.
Multi-National Joint Task Force is 8,700-strong drawn from in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.
Abbah was until his new appointment the military secretary in the army, Olukolade added.
The spokesman had said on Tuesday that the new regional force is expected to go into action very soon, but did not specify when for tactical reasons.
Read also: B’Haram wastes 3,750 lives -HRW
The new regional force will be headquartered in Chadian capital N’Djamena, but few other details have emerged on its specific nature, raising concerns its deployment may face delays.
Boko Haram has stepped up its attacks since President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in May, unleashing a wave of violence that has claimed 800 lives in just two months.
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