KEY POINTS
- Minister Bello Matawalle faces backlash over alleged ties to bandit leaders during his tenure as Zamfara State Governor.
- Current Governor Dauda Lawal accuses Matawalle of aiding terrorists.
- Matawalle’s aides deny the claims, labeling them as politically motivated, while public figures question his role in the Ministry of Defence.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is facing intense scrutiny after being linked to aiding bandit leaders during his tenure as Zamfara State Governor. The allegations, which include providing vehicles to bandits, have sparked public outrage, with calls for his resignation mounting.
Accusations from Zamfara Governor
Current Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, made the claims during an appearance on TVC, a national television station. He alleged that Matawalle was complicit in supporting bandits, even providing vehicles to notorious leaders like Bello Turji.
“If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations,” Lawal said, emphasizing that terrorists were kept at the government house during Matawalle’s administration.
According to Punch, Lawal also referred to an ongoing investigation into N70 billion allegedly misappropriated during Matawalle’s tenure. “This case is still with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and we wonder how he was cleared to become a minister,” he added.
Previous allegations and amnesty controversy
Matawalle’s alleged connections to banditry have been raised in the past. In 2022, while still governor, opposition parties accused him of sponsoring bandits. Matawalle had also initiated an amnesty program between 2019 and 2023, which aimed to bring peace by negotiating with bandit leaders.
However, in a video from July 2024, Turji, one of the bandit leaders, claimed that the scheme empowered certain criminal factions, deepening the state’s insecurity.
An Islamic cleric, Bello Asada, further accused Matawalle of purchasing vehicles for Turji and other bandit leaders. “I know that he purchased about 34 vehicles and distributed them to leaders of terrorists,” Asada alleged in a video that has circulated widely on social media.
Matawalle’s defense
Aides to Matawalle have strongly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated. Dr. Suleiman Shuaib, one of Matawalle’s aides, said,
“These claims are part of a smear campaign. Matawalle never sponsored banditry, and his efforts were focused on securing the state.”
Matawalle’s camp insists that the dialogue with bandits was initiated as a desperate move to restore peace, and when it failed, he took up arms against them. They argue that the current accusations are merely part of Governor Lawal’s political vendetta.
Public reaction and political fallout
The accusations against Matawalle have sparked widespread concern, with many questioning his position in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. Ladipo Johnson, spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, criticized the decision to appoint Matawalle as a minister, questioning the President’s judgment.
“It’s baffling that someone with such a controversial background was chosen for a key role like the Ministry of Defence,” Johnson said.
Kabir Adamu, a security expert, noted that the accusations highlight the growing problem of weaponized insecurity in Nigeria. “There’s evidence that some officials have engaged with bandits, which further complicates the security situation,” Adamu stated.
As the public waits for official responses from both the presidency and the EFCC, pressure continues to mount on Matawalle to address the allegations against him and clarify his role in the state’s ongoing insecurity crisis.
