Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is facing mounting criticism after being accused of involvement with banditry and terrorism during his time as Zamfara State governor. Allegations have surfaced that Matawalle procured vehicles for notorious bandit leaders, including Bello Turji, a well-known criminal operating in the region.
The current Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, publicly called for Matawalle’s resignation during an interview on TVC, a national television station. Lawal claimed that his predecessor was deeply involved in supporting bandits, stating, “If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations. From all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry.” Lawal further accused Matawalle of housing terrorists in the state’s government buildings and facilitating ransom payments to them.
In addition to these accusations, Lawal highlighted an ongoing investigation into a misappropriation of ₦70 billion during Matawalle’s administration. He expressed surprise that Matawalle had been cleared by security agencies to serve as a minister, despite the serious allegations.
Past Accusations of Sponsoring Banditry
This is not the first time Matawalle has been accused of supporting terrorism. In January 2022, while serving as governor, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for his resignation over similar allegations. At that time, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) defended Matawalle, suggesting the accusations stemmed from his defection to the APC.
An Islamic cleric, Bello Asada, also publicly accused Matawalle of purchasing vehicles for bandits, including notorious criminals like Turji. In a video, Asada claimed that Matawalle provided bandits with Hilux vehicles, saying, “The defence minister bought a brand new car and gave it to terrorists.” Asada also questioned why Turji, despite being a well-known criminal, remained free, adding to suspicions about the former governor’s dealings with bandit groups.
Amnesty Program Under Scrutiny
During his time as governor, Matawalle initiated an amnesty program for terrorists, aiming to reduce violence in Zamfara State. However, Turji, in a video from July 2024, accused Matawalle of using the scheme to empower certain bandits while ignoring others. He claimed that the former governor harbored some bandit leaders at the government house without asking them to surrender their weapons.
Matawalle’s Aide Defends Him
Dr. Suleiman Shuaib, an aide to Matawalle, dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and part of a smear campaign by Governor Lawal. Shuaib denied any involvement by Matawalle in banditry, explaining that his former boss only engaged with bandits as part of an early attempt to negotiate peace. Shuaib argued that Matawalle’s dialogue with the bandits worked initially but was undermined when some bandits made unreasonable demands and resumed violence.
As calls grow louder for Matawalle to step down and face investigation, the minister has yet to comment on the matter. For now, the allegations against him remain a cloud over the defence ministry and the federal government’s handling of security in Zamfara State.
