The Nigerian presidency has appointed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Army Staff, as the new Minister of Defense, following the resignation of his predecessor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, for health reasons, according to an official statement.
President Bola Tinubu sent a letter to the Senate seeking approval for the appointment, expressing confidence in Musa’s ability to lead the ministry and strengthen national security. Musa had stepped down as army chief at the end of October as part of a broad reshuffle of military leadership, which the government said aimed to reinforce the national security structure.
The appointment comes as Nigeria faces an unprecedented security crisis, with a series of mass kidnappings reported in recent weeks. The most notable incident occurred on 21 November in Niger State, where more than 300 students and 12 teachers were abducted from Saint Mary’s School in Babiri. Authorities say the total number of kidnapped individuals nationwide has exceeded 400 within just 15 days, triggering widespread concern.
In response to the crisis, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, announced a plan to deploy 20,000 additional police officers, and tightened security measures around schools and places of worship. He also canceled his participation in the recent G20 summit to closely monitor developments.
President Tinubu has faced international criticism as well, with U.S. President Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers accusing him of failing to protect Christians from what they described as “systematic attacks.”