UPDATED: Insecurity: UN-WCD report calls for removal of defence minister of state

A new assessment by State Representative Kimberly Daniels of the Florida House of Representatives has called for urgent leadership changes in Nigeria’s defence architecture, including the removal or redeployment of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over rising insecurity and alleged governance failures.

The report, issued in her capacity as Chairwoman of the Supreme Council of the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), examined what it described as an escalating wave of terrorist attacks and mass killings in Nigeria’s North-central and North-western regions.

It focused particularly on a series of violent incidents recorded during the 2026 Easter period, when dozens of worshippers were reportedly killed in coordinated attacks across Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states.

The document said the attacks targeted Christian gatherings during Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services, raising what it described as “grave humanitarian and security concerns.”

While noting President Bola Tinubu’s public condemnations of the killings, the report argued that “there remains a widening gap between official statements and the lived reality of affected communities, where insecurity continues to intensify.”

A central recommendation of the report is a leadership review within Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence, with specific reference to Bello Matawalle, who currently serves as minister of state for defence.

The document raised what it termed “red flags” regarding his suitability for the role, citing three main concerns. These include alleged credibility and integrity issues linked to accusations from his tenure as governor of Zamfara State, claims of ethical breaches such as alleged tolerance of bandit activity and facilitation of ransom-related negotiations, and questions over strategic competence in a role requiring deep security expertise.

It argued that these concerns, whether proven or contested, have continued to undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s security leadership and weaken trust in institutional response to armed violence.

The report further stated that communities in affected regions are increasingly frustrated by what they describe as repeated official assurances without corresponding improvements in security outcomes.

It warned that continued instability could further erode trust in government and strain relations with international partners.

Among its key recommendations, the UN-WCD urged Mr Tinubu to initiate an immediate review of security leadership, including the possible removal or redeployment of the minister of state for defence to restore confidence in the system.

It also called for a transparent investigation into allegations of complicity or negligence within political and security structures, and recommended strengthened protection measures for vulnerable communities in the North-Central and North-west regions.

On the international front, the report urged the United States government and other global partners to increase diplomatic engagement with Nigeria, particularly in ensuring accountability for individuals alleged to have links with armed groups or activities that undermine national security.

In a personal statement accompanying the report, Ms Daniels said her intervention was informed by reports and appeals from Nigerian citizens, particularly affected communities in the North.

She said her roles as a minister of the Gospel and as Chairwoman of the UN-WCD compelled her to speak out, describing the situation as one in which civilians were being killed while exercising their right to worship.

According to her, the alleged complicity of individuals within leadership structures represents a particularly troubling dimension of the crisis, which she described as “homegrown insecurity.”

She added that the publication of the report was intended to draw international attention to what she described as a worsening humanitarian situation.

The report also referenced House Resolution 761, sponsored by Ms Daniels and her colleague Rachel Plakon, which condemns the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and supports the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the United States government. It noted that the resolution received unanimous bipartisan support in the Florida House during the 2026 legislative session.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has previously recommended Nigeria for CPC status since 2009, according to the report.

Mounting violence, U.S. pressure and policy debate

The latest assessment comes amid sustained international attention, including a earlier report by the United States Congress calling for expanded security cooperation with Nigeria to address attacks on Christian communities.

The report described Nigeria as the “deadliest country to be Christian,” a claim Nigerian authorities have disputed, arguing that the country’s violence stems from a complex mix of insurgency, banditry and communal conflicts rather than a targeted campaign against a single religious group.

U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore, who has been vocal on the issue, reiterated calls for stronger U.S. action, including sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

Before the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by U.S. President Donald Trump, Mr Moore had actively lobbied for tougher measures against Nigeria.

In September 2025, Mr Moore wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the U.S to use “every diplomatic tool,” including the Country of Particular Concern designation, to address what he described as “slaughter of Christians.”

The congressional report outlined several recommendations, including sanctions against individuals and entities suspected of supporting armed groups, expanded counterterrorism cooperation, and disarmament and reintegration programmes targeting militias.

It also revived claims linking illegal mining activities to the funding of insecurity, echoing earlier reports cited by PREMIUM TIMES, a claim that has been strongly denied by Chinese authorities.

The report suggested that such economic activities should be subjected to stricter oversight and enforcement, while also proposing coordinated international action involving Western allies such as France and the United Kingdom to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.

In addition, the report called for direct measures targeting armed groups, including disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes, alongside efforts to strengthen the recruitment, training and technical capacity of Nigerian security forces. It also recommended the use of diplomatic and economic pressure to compel armed actors to lay down their weapons and submit to state authority.

However, PREMIUM TIMES reporting shows that despite increased diplomatic engagement and growing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in intelligence sharing, military training and counterterrorism support, the situation on the ground remains fragile.

The newspaper has documented repeated attacks across Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and other parts of the North-central and North-west, with rural communities continuing to face displacement and cycles of violence.

In efforts to obtain the position of the Ministry of Defence on the allegations raised in the UN-WCD report, PREMIUM TIMES made repeated attempts to reach the office of the Minister of State for Defence.

The Director of Information and Public Relations to the minister of state, Henshaw Ogubike, was contacted by this reporter but immediately dropped the call upon introduction.

Subsequent calls to his aide, Mr Yusuf, were not answered as of the time this report was filed.

Earlier demands for resignation

The renewed calls for Mr Matawalle’s removal also echo earlier domestic criticisms surrounding his continued stay in office.

During the 2024 cabinet reshuffle by Mr Tinubu, concerns were raised by political stakeholders and civil society actors over allegations linked to his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.

Among those who publicly questioned his retention was Laolu Akande, spokesperson for former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who said that the weight of allegations against the minister warranted closer scrutiny and possible removal.

“I’m not sure that there is sufficient justification to keep Matawalle on the job with all the noise and the allegations that were tendered by a sitting governor,” Mr Akande said.

Similarly, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal accused his predecessor of links to banditry and called on him to resign and face investigation, including over allegations of money laundering.

“If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations against me because, from all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry,” Mr Lawal said.

The controversy also drew reactions from political groups within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with some urging Mr Tinubu to use the opportunity of cabinet restructuring to drop Mr Matawalle and initiate a thorough probe.

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Matawalle denies

Mr Matawalle has, however, consistently denied the accusations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.

In statements issued through his media consultants, he described the claims as baseless and politically motivated, insisting that his administration in Zamfara State took decisive steps to confront banditry.

He also dismissed allegations made in a video by a wanted bandit leader, Bello Turji, describing them as false and intended to discredit him.

According to his media team, all arms recovered during his tenure were duly handed over to security agencies, and there was no involvement in any form of criminal collaboration.

“Anyone with basic knowledge of psychoanalysis of a terrorist and deranged mind like Turji will know that he is engaging in victim mentality,” the team said.

It maintained that the accusations lack credible evidence and should be treated as attempts to undermine his record in public office.