| 1 | LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria's Defense Ministry has appointed a new general to head the multinational army to fight Boko Haram. |
| 2 | Thursday's appointment comes as the West African nation's new president promises deeper collaboration with neighboring states in the fight against Islamic extremism. |
| 3 | President Muhammadu Buhari headed home Thursday after two days of talks in Yaounde, Cameroon, focused on Boko Haram. |
| 4 | Its attacks have spread across Nigeria's borders and forced tens of thousands of refugees to flee to neighboring states. |
| 5 | Nigeria's Defense Ministry announced Thursday that Maj. Gen. Iliyasu Isah Abbah will command the 8,700-strong four-nation army based in N'Djamena, Chad's capital. |
| 6 | Buhari has said it is a disgrace that Nigeria needs foreign troops on its soil. |
| 7 | But he noted before leaving Cameroon that "none of us can succeed alone." |