By Ebere Inyama
(ABUJA, Nigeria A Florida State Delegate, Kimberly Daniels, has called out Nigeria’s Number 2 Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, over an alleged attempt to bribe a U.S. official.
In a 15-minute Facebook live video posted to her official account on 20 April, 2026, Daniels, a Florida State Delegate for District 14, alleged that Matawalle attempted to bribe a U.S official to deflect the unflattering report of the United World Congress of Diplomats.
“You went and asked an elected official that you never met before to do a flier using photos of you and him and he don’t even know you”, Daniels said referring to Matawalle.
“Then you put a letter praising yourself and told the official you will give him any amount of money to publish it”, she added.
The UN-WCD report
On April 15, 2026, the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) released a report after examining what it described as an escalating wave of terrorist attacks and mass killings in Nigeria’s North-central and North-western regions.
The report summarized the scores of murders of Christian in the 2026 Easter period across Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states, expressing “grave humanitarian and security concerns.”
Among its key recommendations, the UN-WCD urged President Bola Tinubu to remove or redeploy the de-facto assistant minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, to restore confidence in the system. (Nigeria’s top Minister of Defence is Gen. Christopher Musa.)
Matawalle Denies Allegations
In a swift reaction, Matawalle’s Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, released a press statement via x, describing the allegations by Daniels as “misleading reports and unsubstantiated.”
“These claims, reportedly attributed to a member of the Florida House of Representatives, are entirely false, unfounded, and devoid of credibility”, the statement added.
“These allegations, if proven true, represent a catastrophic breach of trust and casts a long shadow over the country’s anti-terrorism efforts”, said Dr. Walid Abdullahi to TruthNigeria.
“If we can’t trust our leaders to stand against these forces, how can we hope to defeat them?” he asked.
Ghost from Matawalle’s Past?
In a viral video shot when he was Governor of Zamfara state in 2022, Matawalle had argued that “not all bandits are criminals”, adding that so-called bandits are also victims of military operations.
“The military attacks them (bandits) unfairly even as they peacefully reside in their communities on the outskirts of towns”, Matawalle had said in the video.
Speaking during a televised interview with TVC News in September, 2024, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, accused Bello Matawalle of keeping bandits in government house when he (Matawalle) was governor.
Also in September, 2024, a prominent Islamic cleric from neighboring Sokoto State, Mallam Bello Asada, had in a viral video, accused Matawalle of directly supporting notorious criminal leaders terrorizing Nigeria’s northwest region.
He claimed that Matawalle provided these criminals with vehicles and substantial funds aimed at bankrolling their reign of terror.
Groups call for Matawalle’s replacement
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday 17 April, 2026, a security analyst and lawyer, Marvin Ibe, highlighted his group’s observations and urged President Bola Tinubu to “act fast” and to sack Bello Matawalle from office.
“We, as members of the National Coalition Against Terrorism, heartily endorse the entire report of Kimberly Daniels and call on President Tinubu to act fast before it’s too late”, Ibe said.
“To an extent, videos of his former aides testified to his close relationship with bandits, including negotiation for ransom payment and other gifts showered on terrorists, which makes him a sympathizer”, he continued.
“To this end, we totally align ourselves with the position of Kimberly Daniels and call for the immediate sacking or redeployment of Bello Matawalle from the Ministry of Defense”, Ibe added.
Earlier in December, 2025, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), had called for Matawalle’s removal from office Following allegations of his involvement with terrorists.
Data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) show that during Matawalle’s tenure as Governor of Zamfara state (May 2019 to May 2023), a total of 4,216 people, including 1,449 civilians were killed in 833 incidences that rocked the state.
Ebere Inyama reports on conflict for TruthNigeria.
