Kimberly Daniels, a Florida State Representative and Chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), has called for the removal or redeployment of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. The call follows concerns raised in a recent security assessment report regarding the country’s stability.
Daniels made the appeal in a statement released on Tuesday, alongside a report detailing Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis and recent massacres in the North-Central and North-West regions.
The report examined the implications of Nigeria’s current security leadership following a series of attacks during the 2026 Easter period, which left scores dead in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states. Daniels noted that findings revealed a disturbing surge in violence specifically targeting religious congregations during Palm Sunday and Easter services.
According to the statement, local leaders and survivors reported a significant disconnect between the government’s official rhetoric and the reality of safety on the ground, despite public condemnations from the presidency.
The report expressed grave concern over the continued retention of Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, citing several “red flags.” These include long-standing allegations of complicity with bandits during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State, claims of harboring bandit leaders, and concerns regarding a lack of relevant security expertise for his current role.
Daniels argued that removing or redeploying Matawalle is essential to restoring the integrity of the Ministry of Defence.
“Addressing the Government of Nigeria, the results of the assessment urge President Tinubu to ‘look inward’ and remove elements that compromise national security,” Daniels said. “Specifically, there must be an immediate leadership review. The removal or redeployment of Minister Bello Matawalle is necessary to restore the integrity of the defense ministry.”
In addition to leadership changes, Daniels recommended a transparent investigation into allegations of high-level complicity with banditry and called for stronger protection for vulnerable communities.
She further urged the United States government and international partners to increase diplomatic pressure on Nigeria to ensure accountability for those accused of aiding terrorism.
“The position I take on this issue is fueled by 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 remain silent.”
She continued: “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 those who want to harm you, it is devastating.”
Daniels concluded by noting that House Resolution 761, which supports redesignating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), has already received bipartisan support in the Florida House.