Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has denied allegations made by Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, who accused him of being behind the banditry in the state.
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Matawalle’s office responded to the governor’s repeated accusations, stating that the Minister has consistently denied any involvement in banditry or terrorist activities.
In a statement issued by Matawalle’s media consultants, Lambert and Curtis, the claims were described as baseless and mere attempts to distract and discredit the Minister. The statement, signed by Dayemi Saka, Lead Partner at Lambert and Curtis, referred to a video shared on social media platforms in which wanted bandit kingpin Bello Turji made similar allegations against Matawalle.
The statement highlighted Matawalle’s efforts in tackling banditry and criminality during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023. It emphasized his strong stance against negotiating with bandits after the closure of the amnesty window and his insistence on Bello Turji laying down his arms.
Matawalle’s office clarified that all arms seized, recovered, and received from bandits were submitted at the Government House in Gusau, with proper records maintained. The cache of arms was subsequently handed over to the relevant security agencies, as the Government House does not have an armoury.
The statement further addressed Turji’s claims, suggesting that the bandit kingpin is engaging in a “victim mentality” and that his allegations are a result of Matawalle’s efforts to combat banditry in the region.
In the video, Turji had linked the escalation of banditry in Zamfara and other northwestern states to the policies implemented by Matawalle’s administration. He cited instances of the former governor allegedly pampering certain bandit groups and failing to ensure the surrender of their weapons.
Matawalle’s office maintains that the Minister’s actions and policies during his tenure as governor were aimed at restoring peace and security in the state, and that the allegations against him are unfounded and politically motivated.
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