US lawmaker to Tinubu: Redeploy or remove Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle

A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, has called on President Bola Tinubu to redeploy or remove the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, citing concerns raised in a recent security assessment on Nigeria.

Daniels, a Florida state representative and chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats, made the call in a statement posted on her Facebook page, where she highlighted the worsening security situation in parts of the country.

Her intervention follows renewed attacks in the North-Central and North-West regions, particularly during the 2026 Easter period, which left several persons dead in Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states.

According to her, the assessment report reviewed the implications of Nigeria’s current security leadership amid the spate of violence, including attacks on religious gatherings during Palm Sunday and Easter services.

She noted that testimonies from local leaders and survivors pointed to a gap between official assurances and the realities faced by communities on the ground.

The report, she said, raised concerns over Matawalle’s continued stay in office, citing alleged “red flags,” including claims of links with bandit groups during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State and questions over his security experience.

Daniels called for a leadership review within the defence ministry, urging the Federal Government to take steps to restore public confidence.

She said, “To the Government of Nigeria, the results of the assessment urge President Tinubu to ‘look inward’ and remove elements that compromise national security.

“Specifically, immediate leadership review. The removal or redeployment of Minister Bello Matawalle to restore the integrity of the defence ministry.”

The lawmaker also called for a transparent investigation into allegations of high-level complicity in banditry, alongside improved protection for vulnerable communities.