Why Nigeria’s Defence Minister Badaru resigned

His resignation was confirmed late Monday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special
Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity. According to the statement, Badaru
submitted a formal resignation letter to the President, who accepted it and commended him for
his service.

Presidency sources attributed his departure to health-related concerns. Rising Insecurity in the North
Badaru’s exit follows intensified security challenges, including the kidnapping of 25 students in
Kebbi State and the abduction of about 300 students in Niger State — incidents that have
heightened public pressure on the Tinubu administration.

Bandit attacks have also been recorded in parts of Sokoto, Kogi and Kwara states, further fueling
concerns about the government’s ability to curb the mounting violence. In a recent interview with the BBC, Badaru maintained that security agencies were working “day and night” to confront the resurgence of school kidnappings and other criminal activities.

Series of Attacks Deepen Public Anxiety

In the past week alone: Armed men reportedly kidnapped at least 10 people, including a bride and her companions, in Sokoto State. A pastor and his wife were abducted during an attack in Kogi State.
Three officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service were killed at a checkpoint in Katsina State.

The surge in violence comes amid diplomatic tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s
allegation that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria, with Washington warning it could take
direct action if Abuja failed to respond adequately.

To counter the claims, the Nigerian government dispatched a high-level delegation led by
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to the United States, stressing that insecurity affects
citizens of all faiths.

Profile of the Outgoing Minister
Badaru, a two-term former governor of Jigawa State, was appointed Minister of Defence in
August 2023. He studied accounting at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is an alumnus of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

Before joining politics, he built a notable career in business and once led major national business
associations. His abrupt resignation marks a significant development within Nigeria’s security architecture, which has continued to struggle against the persistent threats posed by Boko Haram in the
Northeast and by heavily armed bandit groups across the Northwest.