The Nigerian presidency announced the immediate resignation of Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar for health reasons, amid a sharp rise in mass kidnappings that prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a “state of security emergency.”

Over the past two weeks, more than 400 people have been abducted across central and western states by armed groups demanding ransom.

The crisis escalates following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene militarily in response to what he described as “targeting of Christians,” accusations Nigeria has denied.