A wave of protests swept the National Assembly premises in Abuja on Wednesday, with demonstrators requesting the resignation of the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, following a fatal drone strike on Sunday.
The protesters, who held the National Assembly entrance gate hostage for over two hours, expressed their outrage over the incident, which claimed the lives of over 90 villagers in Tudun Biri, Rigasa District of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The villagers were celebrating Maulud when a Nigerian Army drone bombed their gathering, also leaving over 60 people injured.
Nasir Ishaku, the leader of the protesters, representing the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) North West Zone and the Arewa Youth Movement, was particularly vocal in his criticism of the Defence Minister. He stated, “Nigeria is not well because Nigerians are being killed day by day. The security situation in the country keeps deteriorating since his (Badaru’s) inception as Minister of Defence.”
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Ishaku further highlighted the plight of university students still in captivity, the loss of armed forces members, and the general state of insecurity, especially in Northern Nigeria. He concluded, “These are the clear indications that the minister is incompetent to handle that sensitive ministry. Therefore, he should wake up to his responsibilities or resign.”
The protesters’ request for Badaru’s resignation underscores the growing dissatisfaction with the handling of the country’s security situation. The National Assembly has been urged to investigate the Sunday killing in Kaduna and take decisive action to save the country.