KEY POINTS
- Matawalle refutes allegations made by Governor Lawal which sought to associate him with incidents of banditry in Zamfara State.
- Matawalle’s complicity was also accused by bandit leader Bello Turji, to which the minister denies.
- Matawalle’s aides have claimed that the governor firmly denounced banditry during his administration.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle has categorically dismissed, allegations made by the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal who accused Matawalle of sponsoring banditry in the state. The claims have however been refuted by Matawalle’s office pointing such allegations as false and part of the continuous campaigns to pull down Matawalle.
The denial comes after a video by wanted bandit leader Bello Turji who also accused Matawalle of aiding banditry during his tenure as governor of Zamfara.
In turn, Matawalle’s office pointed to his uncompromising approach to the bandits, especially with regard to the fight against banditry in 2019-2023.
Lies and falsehoods from a bandit Kingpin Bello Turji
Bello Turji in the video accused Matawalle of assisting some of the bands in Zamfara and accommodating them at the Government House.
According to The Punch, Matawalle’s office dismissed these as ‘victim’ mentality noting that all arms recovered from bandits were always surrendered to security agencies.
The statement also equally emphasized Matawalle’s determination to end banditry if it means so and his policies were to ensure the return of peace and order in the region.
