A Nigerian civil rights organisation has condemned what it calls coordinated online attacks against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, following the circulation of an old video linked to his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said the video, recorded in 2021, has been taken out of context and used to portray Mr Matawalle as sympathetic to terrorists — an allegation the group described as false and politically motivated.
In a statement released on Monday, HURIWA said the remarks in the video reflected a conflict-management approach adopted at the time to reduce violence in Zamfara, one of Nigeria’s states worst affected by banditry. It argued that efforts at dialogue or intelligence-led engagement should not be misrepresented as support for criminal groups.
The organisation said the renewed focus on the video was “suspicious”, coming amid recent changes in Nigeria’s defence leadership, including the appointment of General Christopher Musa as Defence Minister. According to HURIWA, the timing suggests an attempt to undermine public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
HURIWA also linked the attacks to political rivalry, saying Mr Matawalle’s continued influence in Zamfara politics and his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu had made him a target for opponents.
Since becoming Minister of State for Defence, the group said, Mr Matawalle has worked within established military and intelligence structures and should not be singled out for Nigeria’s broader security challenges.
The rights group criticised calls for his resignation, describing them as unjustified, and warned that the spread of misinformation and online harassment against public officials could harm democratic debate and national cohesion.
HURIWA urged social media users to exercise restraint and called on security agencies to remain focused on their constitutional responsibilities despite what it described as “online noise”.
The statement was signed by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and dated 15 December 2025.
