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Nigeria’s president appoints new defence chiefs – presidency

Replacements would be announced later on Monday, the presidency spokesman told Reuters news agency on Monday.

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The incoming service chiefs are likely to work closely with neighbouring African nations – Chad, Niger and Cameroon – to oversee the coordinated operations against Boko Haram militants.

Earlier on Monday, a few members of the civilian-JTF escaped death narrowly when an explosive device believed to have been hidden very close to a checkpoint exploded injuring a number of them.

Major General Kenneth Minimah, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu have now all left their positions.

At least 15,000 have been killed since 2009.

Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh and the National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki were also sacked, a separate statement from Buhari’s office added.

Nigerian police are investigating reports that dozens of people were killed in attacks by Boko Haram between Friday and Sunday.

Both came after a male suicide bomber, dressed as a woman and wearing a full-face veil, blew himself up at a crowded market in Chad s capital N Djamena on Saturday, killing 15.

The move was widely anticipated as former General Buhari has made cracking down on Islamist militant group Boko Haram his number one priority.

To compound matters, almost two months into his administration, Buhari is yet to choose ministers; an announcement the 72-year-old former military ruler who had a reputation for being a disciplinarian and iron-fisted, said he may postpone until September. Many of them died in custody.

Play video “Jan 2015: How Boko Haram Operates”.

“But then in recent weeks, Boko Haram has seemed to gather steam”.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo today, had a meeting with senior officials of worldwide oil company, Chevron.

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Moshiri had urged Buhari to restore the confidence of worldwide investors in the industry, and identified improved security in the Niger Delta as key to increased investment in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

Buhari-smiles