A political controversy has emerged following claims by a United States lawmaker accusing Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of attempting to suppress international attention on the country’s worsening security situation.
Kimberly Daniels, a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), made the allegation during a Facebook live session, where she said she faced pressure from individuals allegedly connected to the minister after speaking on reported violence in parts of Nigeria.
Daniels claimed that after she raised concerns about what she described as targeted killings in some regions, efforts were made to discredit her statements and influence US officials to counter her position. She further alleged that an American legislator was approached to publicly oppose her claims regarding Nigeria’s defence leadership.
She also said she had seen materials and messages she believes were linked to attempts to shape international narratives around the issue, insisting the efforts were aimed at weakening accountability rather than addressing the underlying security challenges.
The US lawmaker maintained that her comments were based on reports from affected communities, members of the Nigerian diaspora, and findings from her organisation. She added that her intervention was intended to encourage investigation rather than make final conclusions.
The controversy followed a report she released on April 14, 2026, highlighting rising insecurity in parts of Nigeria’s North Central and North West regions, including incidents in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states. The report raised concerns about the gap between official security assurances and conditions on the ground.
It also questioned aspects of Nigeria’s defence leadership and called for a review of the security structure, including possible reassignment of the minister and a transparent investigation into the allegations.
Daniels reaffirmed her right as an elected official to speak on international human rights issues and dismissed any attempts to silence her.
