Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has appointed Nigerian-born Major General Iliya Abbah as new commander of the 8,700-strong N'Djamena-based Multinational Joint Task Force set up by the African Union to fight quell the insurgency that has been bedvilling the Northeastern region of the country in recent years. According to press reports that quoted Nigerian Military Spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade on Thursday July 30, 2015, Major General Iliya Abbah replaces Major General Tukur Yusuf Buratai who was recently appointed Chief of Staff of Nigeria's Army.

The appointment which was taken on the same day President Buhari ended his 48-hour working visit to Cameroon, press reports say, is a major decision that shows President Buhari's determination to move to tougher military action against the terrorist group within the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which includes soldiers from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin.

Before his appointment, Major General Iliya Abbah was Military Secretary in the Nigerian Army. He is credited with much experience for he had previously led military operations in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.