Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is facing a fresh allegation from a United States lawmaker over an alleged attempt to influence international narratives on the country’s worsening insecurity.
A member of the Florida House of Representatives, Kimberly Daniels, made the claim during a live broadcast, alleging that individuals linked to the minister sought to pressure and discredit her following her comments on killings in parts of Nigeria.
Daniels said the alleged move came after she raised concerns over what she described as targeted attacks in some communities, particularly in the North Central and North-West regions. She claimed that an unnamed US lawmaker was approached with an offer of financial inducement to publicly counter her position and defend Nigeria’s defence leadership.
According to her, the alleged effort included prepared statements and coordinated messaging aimed at reshaping the narrative around the security situation.
The Nigerian government had yet to issue an official response to the allegation as of the time of filing this report, while the defence ministry also remained silent on the matter.
The development follows growing international attention on insecurity in Nigeria, especially after recent attacks in Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states during the Easter period.
Daniels maintained that her intervention was based on reports from affected communities and members of the Nigerian diaspora, insisting that her call was for investigation and accountability rather than accusation.
“I am speaking on behalf of people who say they are under attack,” she said.
Security analysts say the allegation, if substantiated, could introduce a diplomatic dimension to Nigeria’s internal security challenges, with possible implications for the country’s global image.
Within Nigeria, reactions have remained cautious, with stakeholders calling for verification of the claims and urging authorities to address the broader security concerns.
As of press time, there was no independent confirmation of the bribery allegation.