Africa News

Nigeria’s Defence Minister Resigns as Kidnappings Surge and Tinubu Declares Security Emergency

Nigeria’s Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned amid a nationwide spike in kidnappings, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a security emergency.

Nigeria's Defence Minister resigns on health grounds.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned with immediate effect, the Presidency confirmed on Monday, citing health concerns. Presidential spokesperson Mayo Onanuga made the announcement. He said the resignation comes as President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency. This follows a series of violent attacks and mass abductions across the country.

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu is expected to provide further details on the newly declared emergency in the coming days. The development adds pressure to an already strained security landscape, with Nigerians demanding urgent and decisive action.

A Worsening National Crisis

Nigeria has faced recurring challenges with organised armed banditry for several years, but the past weeks have seen an alarming escalation. Multiple states have recorded attacks, with hundreds of civilians abducted in rapid succession.

In Kogi State, gunmen stormed a church during a Sunday service, kidnapping the pastor and nearly a dozen congregants. A day earlier, about 30 women—including a bride and her wedding guests—were seized in Sakoko, located in the northwest.

In total, an estimated 490 people have been kidnapped across the country in just two weeks, according to reporting by The Punch. One of the most devastating incidents occurred at St. Mary’s Private Catholic Boarding School in Papiri, Niger State, where 315 schoolchildren and staff were abducted in late November. Roughly 50 children managed to escape, but the majority remain missing.

These attacks reflect a deepening trend of banditry, particularly in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, where criminal groups frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom.

Government Under Pressure

Beyond banditry, Nigeria continues to contend with a violent Islamist insurgency in its northern regions. Critics have long accused the government of failing to implement sufficient measures to protect schools and rural communities.

In response to the spiralling crisis, President Tinubu has ordered a mass recruitment drive for police and military personnel as part of his emergency security strategy. However, Nigeria’s security sector faces long-standing challenges—limited funding, inadequate equipment, insufficient training and low morale among personnel.

Security expert Oluwole Ojewale, of the Institute for Security Studies, notes that state security forces remain largely absent in many remote areas. “Surveillance remains very poor,” he observed, highlighting gaps that allow bandit groups to thrive.

Nigeria currently has approximately 370,000 security officers responsible for safeguarding a population of over 220 million, according to an assessment by the UK government. A substantial number of these officers are deployed to protect prominent individuals rather than communities at risk.

Corruption, bribery, and slow response to security threats continue to hamper the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.

A Nation at a Crossroads

As President Tinubu prepares to outline his full security plan, public pressure is mounting. The resignation of the Defence Minister has added another layer of uncertainty, raising questions about the government’s readiness to confront the escalating violence.

For millions of Nigerians—especially those in rural areas—the urgency for meaningful action has never been greater.

Also read: https://thebreakingdesk.com/tinubu-declares-nationwide-security-emergency-recruitment/