US Representative Kimberly Daniels has publicly accused Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of offering a bribe to a US official to alter the findings of a report on violence against Christians in Nigeria. In a widely shared video statement, Daniels claimed the Nigerian minister attempted to pay a US elected official to change the narrative of a United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) report detailing targeted killings of Christian communities. The report focused on persistent attacks in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and Nasarawa states, describing them as coordinated and systematic. Daniels stated: "A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria's Minister of State defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report." She added: "We will not be silenced. We will not be intimidated. The truth about what is happening to Christians in Nigeria must be told." The US lawmaker emphasized that the violence is not random but targeted, demanding accountability from Nigeria's leadership. The UN-WCD assessment criticized Nigeria's response to the insecurity and specifically questioned Matawalle's role in the ongoing crisis. It recommended that President Bola Tinubu review leadership within the Defence Ministry, including the possibility of removing or redeploying the minister. No independent verification of the bribery allegation has been provided. Matawalle has not issued a public response to the accusation. The US State Department has not commented on the claim. The situation remains under scrutiny as calls grow for a transparent investigation.
A sitting Nigerian minister is accused by a US lawmaker of attempting to bribe an American official to suppress a report on violence against Christians, a serious allegation that strikes at the credibility of Nigeria's security leadership. The claim, tied to a report on coordinated attacks in central states, remains unproven but aligns with long-standing concerns about accountability in handling religious violence. If the allegation gains traction, it could strain diplomatic trust and prompt foreign scrutiny of Nigeria's internal security decisions. No response from Matawalle or the presidency deepens the silence around the accusation.
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