Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned with immediate effect as bandit attacks, kidnappings, and violence surge across the northwest.
A State House statement on Monday confirmed that Badaru submitted his resignation letter dated December 1 to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing personal medical concerns that required his full attention. President Tinubu accepted the resignation, thanked Badaru for his service during a period marked by heightened security challenges, and said a new ministerial nominee would be submitted to the Senate later this week.
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In a related development, former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock on Monday evening. Details of the meeting remain sketchy, but sources suggest it may be connected to discussions on filling the Defence Minister vacancy as the nation grapples with escalating insecurity.
The resignation comes at a time of growing violence in several northwest states. In Kano, bandits have carried out attacks resulting in killings and abductions across rural communities, with Yankamaye village in Tsanyanwa Local Government Area recently hit, leaving a woman dead and three others kidnapped. Security forces intervened in some cases, rescuing kidnapped victims, but the threat remains significant.
Kebbi State has also seen high-profile school kidnappings, raising concerns about the vulnerability of students in rural areas. In Kogi State, suspected bandits attacked a church in Ejiba, Yagba West, abducting worshippers, including the pastor and his wife. In Katsina, similar attacks have caused mass displacement and panic among villagers, with armed gangs targeting communities and local travelers
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, located in the north-central region, suspected bandits attacked a church in Ejiba, Yagba West, abducting worshippers including the pastor and his wife. Highway travelers in Kogi have also faced ambushes, with security forces recently rescuing 21 passengers during a bandit attack, though two security personnel died in the operation.
These incidents coincide with a national security emergency declared by President Tinubu earlier this month to strengthen recruitment for the police and armed forces and enhance the country’s overall security framework.
