A civil society group from Northern Nigeria, the North West Development Vanguard (NWDV), has called for the immediate removal of the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, over the worsening state of security in the country—especially in Benue and Plateau states.
In a statement released by the group and signed by its President, Comrade Aminu Sani, and Secretary, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, the group said the Minister has failed in his duty to protect Nigerians and should be held responsible for the recent rise in deadly attacks.
The group’s position comes amid several tragic incidents in Benue and Plateau where hundreds of innocent people have been killed in attacks by armed men. In Benue State alone, more than 50 people were killed in Kastina-Ala and Logo LGAs. In Plateau’s Mangu and Bokkos areas, over 100 lives were lost in multiple attacks.
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According to the group, the attacks are part of a disturbing pattern, and the Defence Minister has not shown the leadership needed to stop them. The NWDV says Badaru is under fire over insecurity because of what they describe as poor coordination, lack of action, and political distractions.
“Instead of focusing on his job, the Minister is busy with political activities aimed at the 2027 presidential race,” the group said. “He has abandoned his core duty of protecting Nigerians.”
They went on to say that Badaru’s continued presence in office is a danger to national security and a betrayal of public trust.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action by firing the minister.
“We want the president to show that incompetence will not be tolerated. Removing Badaru is a step toward restoring people’s faith in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.”
Along with their demand for Badaru’s dismissal, the group also called for a total overhaul of Nigeria’s security system. They suggested improvements like better intelligence gathering, more funding for security agencies, and stronger cooperation between security forces.
As Badaru comes under fire over insecurity, the group is also asking for support from civil society, religious leaders, and international partners to pressure the government into improving the country’s security setup.
“This is everyone’s fight,” the statement concluded. “Until those in charge are held accountable, the killings will continue, and people will keep losing faith in their leaders.”
This isn’t the first time the Defence Minister has faced backlash, but with the rising death toll in the Middle Belt, Badaru is under fire over insecurity more than ever before.
