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A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, has urged President Bola Tinubu to redeploy or remove the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, following concerns raised in a recent security assessment for Nigeria.
Daniels, a Florida state representative and chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats, made the call in a Facebook post, expressing concern about the deteriorating security situation in parts of the country.
Her remarks come after renewed attacks in the North-Central and North-West regions during the 2026 Easter period, which reportedly led to several deaths in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states.
She said the assessment she reviewed examined Nigeria’s security leadership in light of ongoing violence, including attacks during Palm Sunday and Easter services.
According to her, testimonies from local communities suggested a disconnect between official statements and the realities on the ground.
Daniels claimed the report raised questions about Matawalle’s suitability for the role, citing alleged concerns linked to his time as governor of Zamfara State and doubts about his security credentials.
She called for a review of leadership within the defence ministry and urged the government to take steps to restore public confidence in national security institutions.
Daniels said President Tinubu should “look inward” and remove individuals who may undermine national security, specifically calling for the redeployment or removal of Matawalle.
She also called for an independent investigation into alleged high-level complicity in banditry and improved protection for vulnerable communities.
Daniels further urged the United States and other international partners to increase diplomatic pressure on Nigeria to ensure accountability in the security sector.
She said her comments were based on concerns raised by Nigerians who contacted her and on a bipartisan-supported resolution in Florida regarding Nigeria’s religious freedom status.
“The position I take on this issue is because of citizens reaching out to me from Nigeria,” she said.
“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!”
Efforts to reach Matawalle for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing the report.
