Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned amid a surge in mass kidnappings and security crises across the country. Badaru Abubakar was only appointed as defence minister two years back in 2023 by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu after serving two terms in office as the Governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023 during Late President Muhammadu Buhari’s era.
President Bola Tinubu accepted his resignation, citing health reasons, and has announced Former Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, as his successor Abubakar’s departure comes after Tinubu declared a national security emergency, vowing to tackle the worsening violence in the country.
The country has seen a wave of abductions, including the kidnapping of over 200 schoolchildren and teachers, since mid-November sparking widespread concern. Analysts attribute the insecurity to economic hardship, weak governance, and regional threats.
The international community, including the United States, is pressuring Nigeria to address the crisis even vowing to come to the country themselves and tackle the insurgents with President Donald Trump referring to Nigeria as a country of “particular concern”.
President Tinubu has now ordered the recruitment of 50,000 police officers, redeployment of VIP police, and deployment of forest guards to combat armed gangs.
