Nigeria Appoints Major General Ajose as New Military Commander

The Nigerian government has appointed Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose as the new commander of Operation Hadin Kai, which targets Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Province (ISWAP), in the northeast. This appointment was confirmed by army spokesperson Appolonia Anele in an official statement on Wednesday.

Ajose replaces Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who had been in the position since April 2025, marking a tenure of less than two years. Abubakar was the 15th commander of the operation.

The reshuffle is part of a larger reorganization involving 14 other generals, aimed at boosting operational effectiveness and aligning command structures with Nigeria's evolving security challenges. The army did not link this command change to any specific recent attacks in the northeast.

The appointment comes as Nigeria prepares for presidential elections in early 2027, with security concerns being a significant issue, especially given the disruptions caused by security threats during the last elections.