Jane Salihu
A United States lawmaker has called on Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately remove the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over allegations linking him to banditry and rising insecurity in parts of the country.
The call was made by Kimberly Daniels, a Florida State Representative and chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), in an assessment report released on April 14, 2026.
In the report, Daniels urged the Nigerian government to review the leadership of the defence ministry, citing concerns that retaining Matawalle could undermine national security efforts at a time of escalating violence in several states.
The assessment followed a series of attacks during the 2026 Easter period in Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states, where gunmen reportedly targeted Christian communities, leaving dozens dead and several others injured.
According to the report, the violence highlighted what it described as a growing gap between government assurances on security and the realities faced by communities affected by armed attacks.
Matawalle, who served as governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023 before his appointment as Minister of State for Defence, has previously faced accusations from political opponents and some civil society actors alleging links with bandit groups operating in the North-West.
The report cited concerns including alleged contacts with bandit leaders during his tenure as governor, claims of ransom negotiations and questions over the strategic direction of the defence ministry.
However, Matawalle has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated. Some of his supporters have also defended his record, pointing to anti-banditry initiatives undertaken during his time as governor and ongoing military operations against armed groups.
The UN-WCD report recommended that the Nigerian government conduct a transparent investigation into the allegations and strengthen security measures for vulnerable communities, particularly in the North-Central and North-Western regions.
It also advised the government to consider a leadership review within the defence ministry to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.
Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges in recent years, especially in the North-West where armed bandit groups have carried out kidnappings and attacks on rural communities, and in the North-Central where clashes between farming communities and armed groups have intensified.
As pressure mounts from both local and international observers, it remains unclear whether the Nigerian government will act on the recommendations contained in the report.
