Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has officially accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of involvement in the ongoing banditry crisis plaguing the state. Governor Lawal disclosed on Tuesday that he has reported Matawalle’s alleged connections to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and President Bola Tinubu, providing them with evidence.
This revelation comes after Matawalle, who is also the former governor of Zamfara State, denied any involvement with bandits and challenged both Governor Lawal and retired General Ali Gusau to swear by the Holy Quran that they were not involved in the banditry.
Matawalle defended his past efforts to engage in dialogue with bandits as a strategy to curb the violence, noting that other governors from neighboring states like Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina had also used similar methods. He reiterated his stance on Channels Television, maintaining that he was not a sponsor of banditry and urging Lawal and Gusau to take an oath to prove their innocence.
In response, Lawal’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, dismissed Matawalle’s claims, labeling them as lies. Idris asserted that Governor Lawal had already sworn by the Quran, praying for divine punishment on anyone involved in the state’s banditry crisis. He further vowed that the Zamfara government would soon release damning evidence implicating Matawalle.
Idris alleged that Matawalle provided vehicles, money, and food to bandits during his time as governor, a claim that he said was backed by substantial evidence, which had already been shared with the NSA and the President. He also assured that these facts would be made public in response to Matawalle’s challenge for a “media trial.”
“He (Matawalle) is lying. We mentioned names. He should come out and clear his name. He needs to explain his relationship with them,” Idris stated. He added that the governor had already met with both the President and the NSA, presenting them with the facts surrounding Matawalle’s alleged ties to the bandits.
Attempts to reach the NSA’s spokesperson, Zakari Mijinyawa, for confirmation of an investigation into the minister’s alleged involvement were unsuccessful. Similarly, the Defence spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, directed inquiries to the Minister’s office.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, noted that the police were not the lead agency in Zamfara’s anti-banditry operations, while calls to other officials involved in the investigation went unanswered.
Governor Lawal’s accusations come at a time when Zamfara continues to struggle with rising insecurity, with banditry remaining a significant threat to the region’s peace and stability.
