Abuja, Nigeria – December 4, 2025 – Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, the immediate past Minister of Defence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has categorically rejected viral online reports claiming that he resigned because he could not support alleged joint military operations between the Nigerian government and the Donald Trump administration targeting insurgent hideouts in northern forests.
In a strongly worded, electronically signed statement released on Tuesday titled “Rejoinder: Categorical Denial Of Malicious Publication Regarding My Resignation As Minister of Defence,” Badaru described the circulating story as completely fabricated and maliciously designed to cause division.
“My attention has been drawn to a malicious, false, and baseless publication circulating online, alleging that I stated I resigned as Minister of Defence because I ‘cannot stand and watch the US and Tinubu government bombing our brothers in the forest,’” he wrote. “I wish to state categorically and unequivocally that this publication is entirely false, deliberately mischievous, and did not originate from me or from any authorised representative acting on my behalf.”
The former minister insisted that the motive behind the hoax was to damage his reputation, create friction between him and President Tinubu, and distract the administration from its core governance responsibilities.
Badaru, who submitted his resignation letter on December 1 (citing poor health) and had it promptly accepted by the president, stressed that the genuine reasons for stepping down had already been formally communicated to Mr President and subsequently shared with the public through official and conventional media channels.
“The true and valid reasons for my resignation were formally communicated to Mr President and subsequently made known to the public through conventional and social media platforms,” he said. “Any suggestion of an alternative or inflammatory motive is a complete falsehood engineered by mischief makers.”
He used the opportunity to reaffirm his unwavering loyalty to President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Renewed Hope Agenda. “I wish to reassure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the good people of Nigeria that I remain firmly committed to the peace, security, and stability of our nation,” Badaru declared. “My loyalty to the President and unwavering support for the Renewed Hope Agenda remain intact. I also reaffirm my full dedication to the continued success of our great party, the APC, at all levels—particularly as we approach the 2027 general elections.”
The hoax emerged against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic tension between Abuja and Washington following President Trump’s November social-media outburst accusing Nigeria of allowing a “Christian genocide” and threatening direct U.S. military action if the situation was not addressed. Nigerian officials, including Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and presidential adviser Daniel Bwala, rejected the genocide label as inaccurate and insisted that any external assistance must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Badaru’s 15-month tenure as Defence Minister (August 2023–December 2025) focused on strengthening military coordination, intelligence sharing, and regional cooperation against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed banditry. Despite notable progress, the security challenges in the north-west and north-east remained severe, with recurring mass abductions and attacks on rural communities.
His resignation letter explicitly mentioned deteriorating health as the primary reason for stepping aside—a position corroborated by State House statements and the president’s expression of gratitude for Badaru’s service. President Tinubu has since forwarded the name of the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to the Senate for confirmation as the new Minister of Defence, signalling continuity in the administration’s security strategy.
Local APC chapters in Jigawa State and several northern stakeholders quickly rallied behind Badaru, condemning the false report as the work of “faceless, unpatriotic elements” seeking to sow confusion ahead of future elections.
The episode underscores the growing danger of coordinated disinformation campaigns in Nigeria’s polarised political landscape, where security narratives can be weaponised for partisan gain. As both Abuja and Washington explore ways to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation without compromising sovereignty, the focus, according to analysts, should remain on sustainable domestic solutions: better-equipped armed forces, community-level intelligence networks, economic development in vulnerable regions, and inclusive interfaith initiatives.
With the rumour comprehensively debunked by the former minister himself, attention now returns to the substantive task of tackling Nigeria’s complex insecurity—one that demands unity, clarity, and decisive action rather than distraction and division.
