President Tinubu Scrambles for New Defense Minister as Badaru Resigns Amid Rising Insecurity

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, has officially submitted his resignation to President Bola Tinubu after serving two terms in office.

The announcement comes at a time when a renewed wave of terrorism and banditry continues to spread across several states. While the presidency attributed Badaru’s exit to health concerns, many Nigerians remain skeptical, considering the ongoing security crisis gripping the nation.

During Badaru’s time in office, Nigeria faced one of its most turbulent security periods. Twenty-five students were kidnapped in Kebbi State, about 300 students were abducted in Niger State, and bandit attacks were recorded across communities in Koshi, Kwara, Sokoto and other regions. These incidents have intensified public pressure on the Tinubu administration and deepened concerns over the government’s ability to curb the escalating violence.

In an interview with the BBC, Badaru insisted that security agencies were working tirelessly to combat the resurgence of school kidnappings and other crimes. However, the timing of his resignation paints a more complicated picture.

Although his departure has been framed as health-related, the optics are hard to ignore. The resignation comes barely days after President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency. In response to rising attacks, Tinubu unveiled new security measures, including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, the deployment of forest guards, and heightened protection for schools, churches and mosques in vulnerable communities.

The president is expected to name a new Minister of Defence this week. Tinubu recently held a private meeting at the State House with former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa While details of the meeting remain unclear, the development has fueled speculation about who will take over the critical role.