Abuja [Nigeria], December 2: Nigeria - Africa's most populous country - has long faced insecurity, but a recent spate of kidnappings has forced the country to scramble to respond.
AFP news agency reported on December 2 that Nigerian Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned, in the context of the country falling into a security crisis, including mass kidnappings of students.
Minister Abubakar's resignation comes after President Bola Tinubu declared a "nationwide security emergency" last week, as Nigeria scrambled to respond to a wave of mass kidnappings that saw hundreds abducted in just a few days last month.
President Tinubu's spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that Minister Abubakar (63 years old) resigned immediately due to health reasons.
"His resignation comes against the backdrop of President Tinubu declaring a state of national security emergency, with plans to clarify its scope at the appropriate time," the statement said.
Nigeria - Africa's most populous country - has long faced insecurity, but a recent spate of kidnappings has forced the country to scramble to respond.
In late October, US President Donald Trump placed Nigeria on the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) due to what he called the killings of Christians by "radical Islamists." He then threatened military intervention.
The Nigerian government and independent security experts have rejected the moves.
Armed gangs seized more than 300 students, teachers and staff at St. Mary's School in Nigeria on November 21. Fifty escaped, but the rest remain in custody.
"The students are fine and will return soon," said Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Source: Thanh Nieu Newspaper