Why Nigeria’s defence minister has resigned amid kidnapping crisis
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from his position with immediate effect, citing health reasons, the president’s office confirmed.
His departure comes at a critical time, as the country faces a surge in kidnappings and other security challenges.
Abubakar, 63, had been serving as Defence Minister since August 2023. In his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu, he explained that health concerns made it impossible for him to continue in the role. The president accepted his resignation and thanked him for his service to the nation.
Nigeria has been grappling with an alarming rise in mass kidnappings, particularly of schoolchildren. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 402 people, mostly students, have been abducted since mid-November.
In one of the latest attacks, gunmen kidnapped 20 people in northern Nigeria, including a Christian pastor and a Muslim bride with her bridesmaids. Meanwhile, around 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from a Catholic school in Niger State are still missing after one of the largest school abductions in recent weeks.
It is not yet clear who is behind all the kidnappings. While analysts say most are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom, a presidential spokesperson told the BBC that authorities suspect jihadist groups may be responsible for some attacks. The government has come under criticism for a slow response, leaving many communities feeling vulnerable.
President Tinubu has declared a national security emergency and announced plans to strengthen the country’s security forces, including expanding the police to 50,000 officers by recruiting an additional 20,000 personnel.
Abubakar served two terms as governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 and was a key supporter of Tinubu’s presidential campaign, helping secure strong votes in his home state. His appointment as Defence Minister was widely seen as a recognition of his political loyalty.
With Abubakar’s departure, the president is expected to inform the Senate of his successor later this week. Nigeria now faces the challenge of filling the leadership gap while continuing to confront a range of security threats, from kidnappings and Islamist insurgency in the north to separatist unrest in the southeast and clashes over land and water in central regions.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
