LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria's president has appointed an air force officer from the troubled northeast as his new military commander as security forces struggle to quell an Islamic uprising.
Presidential adviser Reuben Abati tweeted Thursday that Air Marshal Alex S. Badeh, 57, is the new chief of defense staff and services. Badeh had been chief of air services since 2012. Abati's office said a statement is being prepared.
Several senior army officers got new assignments last month.
Badeh takes over as Africa's biggest oil producer battles Islamic extremists in the northeast. Badeh's home state of Adamawa as well as neighboring Borno and Yobe states have been under a state of emergency since May. Security forces quickly drove insurgents out of major urban centers but there has been a resurgence in attacks recently.
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