The North West Development Vanguard (NWDV) has accused Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, of failing in his duties to protect citizens, especially in light of the deadly violence plaguing Benue and Plateau states. In a statement issued by the group on Thursday, it demanded the immediate removal of the minister from office, saying he has shown gross incompetence and is more focused on politics than national security.
Signed by the group’s President, Comrade Aminu Sani, and Secretary, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, the statement pointed to recent violent attacks in both states that left scores of Nigerians dead. The group said the Defence Minister has done little or nothing to prevent or respond to these incidents.
According to the NWDV, the attacks in Benue State alone claimed at least 50 lives in Kastina-Ala and Logo local government areas. They also said over 300 armed individuals—believed to be foreign militia—were behind the assaults. In Plateau State, they added, over 100 people were killed in similar attacks across Mangu and Bokkos LGAs.
“These attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of insecurity that the Minister of Defence has consistently failed to address. His lack of proactive measures and failure to coordinate an effective response have emboldened these criminal elements,” the group stated.
They also accused the minister of being more concerned about building his political profile for the 2027 elections than tackling the nation’s worsening security problems.
“Instead of focusing on his duties, the Minister is busy engaging in political activities aimed at positioning himself for the 2027 presidential elections. This is a clear indication that he is more interested in power than in the safety and well-being of Nigerians,” they said.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act swiftly and remove the minister from his position to rebuild public trust and restore faith in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
“The President must act decisively to restore public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens. Sacking the Minister of Defence is a necessary step towards demonstrating that incompetence and negligence will not be tolerated under his watch,” the group noted.
The NWDV also called for a full overhaul of Nigeria’s security framework, pushing for better intelligence gathering, more resources for security agencies, and improved cooperation between local and national forces.
They appealed to civil society groups, religious leaders, and even the international community to speak out and take part in pushing for better security systems.
“The fight against insecurity is a collective responsibility. We must all work together to ensure that our communities are safe and that those responsible for protecting us are held accountable,” the group said.
