Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed new defence chiefs after sacking the heads of the army, navy and air force.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed new defence chiefs after sacking the heads of the army, navy and air force.

The sackings were expected as the president has repeatedly criticised the military’s inability to defeat Islamist group Boko Haram.

The Islamists have recently launched a series of deadly guerrilla attacks, killing more than 250 people.

Boko Haram is thought to be responsible for more than 10,000 deaths since 2009.

Both the new head of the army, Maj Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the National Security Adviser, Maj Gen Babagana Monguno, are from Borno State which is at the heart of the conflict.

BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says the hope is they have a good grasp of what is needed to end the violence.

The new military chiefs will be expected to work closely with neighbours Chad, Cameroon and Niger as they join forces to tackle Boko Haram.

The group has also stepped up attacks on these countries.

At least 12 civilians were killed in Cameroon in a suspected Boko Haram suicide attack on Sunday evening, a military source told the BBC.

Two soldiers also died, along with two bombers who blew themselves up in Fotokol, near the border with Nigeria.