A coalition of northern and Muslim organisations has criticised a U.S. lawmaker’s call for the redeployment of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, describing the remarks as inappropriate and an interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
The groups — Nigerian Muslim Congress, Northern Elders Political Development Group and Youths Vanguard for Peaceful Co-existence of Nigeria — said in a joint statement Thursday that comments by Kimberly Daniels on Nigeria’s security management were “troubling” and risk undermining the country’s sovereignty.
They said decisions on Nigeria’s security architecture, including appointments and redeployments, fall under the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and are guided by national interest and local intelligence.
“External opinions, regardless of intent, must not override the authority of those directly accountable to the Nigerian people,” the statement said.
The coalition defended Matawalle, citing his experience as former governor of Zamfara State, one of the regions most affected by banditry and insecurity. It said his understanding of insurgency and communal conflicts positions him to contribute to national security efforts.
The groups also criticised what they described as negative portrayals of Nigeria by individuals outside the country, saying such views often lack context and fail to reflect the complexity of the country’s security challenges.
They said it was unfair to single out one official for issues they described as systemic and longstanding, noting that insecurity predates the current administration.
Nigeria has faced years of violence, including banditry and kidnappings in the northwest and insurgency in the northeast.
The coalition said ongoing military operations and interventions, particularly in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina states, have led to measurable improvements in some areas.
The statement warned against what it called attempts to spread misleading narratives aimed at discrediting the federal government, saying such actions could undermine national unity and security operations.
It urged both domestic and international stakeholders to support Nigeria’s efforts to address insecurity while respecting its sovereignty and institutional processes.
The statement was signed by Abdullahi Usman Sarki, chairman, and Yusuf Abubakar, secretary, on behalf of the coalition.