Nigeria is facing a leadership change in its defence ministry as Mohammed Badaru Abubakar resigns, citing health reasons, the presidency announced.
His departure comes at a time when insecurity across the country has reached alarming levels, with frequent mass kidnappings raising concerns over the government’s ability to maintain order.
Reports indicate that at least 402 people, mostly children, have been kidnapped since mid-November, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The situation worsened on Sunday when gunmen carried out two attacks in the north, abducting 20 people, including a Christian pastor, a Muslim bride, and her bridesmaids.
In central Niger state, around 250 students and 12 teachers from a Catholic school remain missing after one of the largest abductions in recent weeks.
The perpetrators of the kidnappings are still not confirmed. While most analysts point to criminal gangs seeking ransom, a presidential spokesman told the BBC that jihadist groups could also be behind some of the attacks.
Abubakar, aged 63, took office as Nigeria’s Defence Minister in August 2023.
In his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu, he cited health concerns, though details about his condition have not been shared.
The presidency confirmed that Tinubu accepted the resignation and expressed appreciation for Abubakar’s “services to the nation.” The statement also outlined ongoing measures to improve security, including the declaration of a national security emergency and plans to increase the police force to 50,000 officers by recruiting an additional 20,000 personnel.
Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security threats. These include kidnappings by armed groups, an Islamist insurgency in the north, separatist tensions in the southeast, and disputes between herders and farmers in the central regions over land and water resources.
Before serving at the federal level, Abubakar governed Jigawa state for two terms from 2015 to 2023. He played a vital role in President Tinubu’s election campaign, helping secure victory in his home state, which earned him the defence portfolio after Tinubu assumed office.
The president’s office said a replacement for Abubakar will be communicated to the Senate later this week.
