A new controversy has emerged amid Nigeria’s deepening security challenges, following allegations by a United States lawmaker that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, attempted to suppress international attention on ongoing killings in parts of the country.
The claims were made during a Facebook live broadcast by Kimberly Daniels, a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats. She alleged that the minister sought to influence American officials through inducements and coordinated messaging.
Daniels stated that after issuing a press release on what she described as targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, she faced pressure from individuals allegedly linked to the minister. This, she said, included efforts to discredit her claims and attempts to sway US-based officials to support a counter-narrative.
According to her, an unnamed American lawmaker was reportedly offered financial incentives to publicly oppose her position and defend Nigeria’s defence leadership. She also claimed to have evidence of communications, including prepared statements and promotional materials, allegedly connected to the minister.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian government has not issued an official response to the allegations.
The development follows an earlier report released on April 14, 2026, by Daniels in her role at the UN-WCD, raising concerns about escalating violence in Nigeria’s North Central and North West regions. The report referenced attacks during the Easter period in states such as Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa, pointing to a widening gap between official assurances and realities on the ground.
It also questioned the leadership of the defence ministry under Matawalle, citing concerns about credibility and past allegations linked to his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.
The report recommended a review of Nigeria’s security leadership and urged Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate reforms, including a possible redeployment of the minister and a transparent investigation into the claims.
Daniels maintained that her intervention was based on testimonies from affected communities, diaspora inputs, and findings from the UN-WCD’s international network spanning the United States, Nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Canada. She emphasized that her advocacy is rooted in humanitarian concerns, particularly for vulnerable rural populations affected by recurring violence.
“I am speaking on behalf of people who say they are under attack,” she said, noting that her call is for investigation rather than direct accusation.
She also rejected any attempts to intimidate her, affirming her constitutional right as an elected official to address global human rights issues.
The allegations come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security situation, especially in farming communities where attacks persist despite government interventions. Analysts suggest the issue could take on diplomatic implications if it prompts formal responses from US authorities or international bodies.
Reactions within Nigeria remain divided, with some stakeholders calling for careful investigation, while others caution against politicising the country’s security challenges.
Observers say the situation highlights increasing global scrutiny of Nigeria’s security framework and the need for transparency in addressing allegations involving public officials.
As of press time, the bribery claims remain unverified, and no official statement has been released by the defence ministry to confirm or refute them. Nonetheless, the situation points to a potentially heightened narrative around Nigeria’s security crisis, with possible consequences for both domestic policy and international perception.
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