The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has strongly denied accusations made by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, that he is behind the surge in banditry in the state.
Governor Lawal had previously alleged that Matawalle was involved in sponsoring bandits, a claim which the minister’s office has consistently denied.
Responding to the latest accusation, Matawalle’s office emphasized that such claims are baseless and aimed at discrediting the former governor.
A statement from Matawalle’s media consultants also addressed similar allegations made by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
In a recent video, Turji had accused Matawalle of being involved in the escalation of banditry during his time as governor. However, Matawalle’s team described these accusations as false and malicious.
According to the statement, the former governor played a significant role in combating criminal activities during his tenure from 2019 to 2023.
The statement highlighted Matawalle’s firm stance against negotiating with bandits after the expiration of the amnesty period, citing his refusal to compromise with bandit leaders like Bello Turji.
The statement also clarified that all arms seized from bandits during Matawalle’s administration were submitted to security agencies, with no evidence of arms being stored at the Government House in Gusau.
Matawalle’s team dismissed Turji’s allegations as the ramblings of a “deranged mind,” pointing out that such claims should not be taken seriously.
The bandit leader had claimed in his video that certain groups of bandits were pampered by the former governor, and that these groups were allowed to keep large caches of weapons.
However, Matawalle’s office maintains that these accusations are simply part of a larger effort to tarnish the minister’s reputation and undermine his efforts in fighting banditry in Zamfara.
