Nigeria has named Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar as the new commander of its counterinsurgency operations in the northeast, following a resurgence of militant violence that has claimed the lives of civilians and soldiers over the past four months.
The appointment, confirmed in a statement by Operation spokesperson Reuben Kovangiya, makes Abubakar the 15th commander to lead the military’s battle against Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province).
Abubakar previously served as deputy commandant of the Nigerian Defence College and led key security operations in north-central Nigeria.
The move comes amid a sharp uptick in attacks in the northeast, with insurgents deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics, including armed drones and roadside explosive devices. Security analysts warn that these developments suggest a potential resurgence of militant capabilities in the region.
In one of the deadliest recent incidents, ISWAP claimed responsibility for an attack in Borno State that killed at least 26 people, according to a statement released on Telegram.
The insurgency, now in its 15th year, continues to destabilize parts of northeastern Nigeria, with militants frequently targeting both civilians and security personnel.
Although the military has not directly linked the leadership change to the spike in violence, Borno State Governor Babangida Zulum voiced alarm earlier this month, stating: “The renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings almost daily, without confrontation, signal that Borno State is losing ground.”