US Lawmaker Demands Removal of Minister of Defence State, Matawalle Over Nigeria’s Insecurity

By Romanus Ugwu

Kimberly Daniels, a member of the Florida House of Representatives in the United States, has called for the immediate removal or reassignment of Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, because of the growing insecurity in the country.

She based her recommendation on the results of a new international assessment of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

Daniels, who is also the chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats, made the demand in her comprehensive report examining recent violence in Nigeria’s North Central and North West regions.
According to her report, restoring credibility to Nigeria’s defence leadership is essential, warning that retaining the current leadership could further erode public confidence and weaken security efforts.

In her appeal to President Bola Tinubu, she told him to “look inward” and take action by restructuring the defence ministry, starting with Matawalle’s job.

The document also raised concerns about past allegations linked to Matawalle’s tenure as governor of Zamfara State, as well as broader questions about ethical governance and the strategic direction of Nigeria’s security leadership.

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The report further highlighted the risk of undermining both domestic trust and international confidence in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.

She expressed concerns over a wave of attacks during the 2026 Easter period, in which dozens of Christians were reportedly killed in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states.
It noted that religious gatherings were specifically targeted during Palm Sunday and Easter services, intensifying fear among affected communities.

While President Tinubu has condemned the violence, the assessment points to a growing sense among residents that official statements have yet to translate into meaningful improvements in security on the ground.

In her remarks, Daniels said her position was shaped by direct appeals from individuals in Nigeria, as well as her responsibilities in international diplomacy and ministry.

She described the situation as “deeply troubling” and stressed the urgency of decisive action in addressing what the report characterises as a worsening crisis.

In her recommendations, titled “On behalf of members in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Ghana, to the Government of Nigeria,” the results of the assessment urge President Tinubu to “look inward” and remove elements that compromise national security.

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“Immediate Leadership Review: The removal or redeployment of Minister Bello Matawalle to restore the integrity of the defence ministry. Institutional Transparency: Conducting a transparent investigation into allegations of high-level complicity with banditry to regain the trust of the Nigerian people.

“Enhanced Protection: Implementing more robust security measures for vulnerable communities in the North-Central and Northwestern regions.
“Recommendations to the U.S. Government and International Partners (Given Nigeria’s status as a CPC – Country of Particular Concern – by the U.S.),” the report noted.

Representative Kimberly Daniels also called on the American government and international partners to: “Increase diplomatic pressure to ensure that those accused of aiding terrorism are held accountable.

“The position I take on this issue is because of citizens reaching out to me from Nigeria. My connection to Nigeria as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Chairwoman of UN-WCD would not allow me to be silent.

“Based on the referenced report, the attacks against believers in Northern Nigeria are allegedly protected by leadership from the inside. The greatest form of terrorism a person can experience is terror that comes from ‘homegrown familiar enemies’.

“When the people you trust to protect you work undercover with others who want to harm you, it must be devastating! My brothers and sisters in Nigeria are martyred because they gather to worship Jesus, while most Americans do not understand how precious our religious liberty is and the protections that come with it,” she noted.

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(Orginally published by Sun)