The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to banditry and insecurity in the North. The party claims that repeated denials by bandit leaders of any association with Matawalle point to a political plot against the former governor.

According to the APC, despite these denials, the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal has continued to campaign against Matawalle, allegedly to pressure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove him from office. The party cited video recordings of bandit leader Bello Turji denying any relationship with Matawalle, either during his tenure as governor or as minister.

The APC alleges that the state government is using public resources to mobilize individuals and groups to promote claims linking Matawalle to insecurity. The party claims that some individuals have been stationed across Northern Nigeria and parts of the South to propagate these narratives, with one admitting to receiving money from the state government.

The APC has also raised questions over the release of Musa Kamarawa, a suspected bandit arrested during Matawalle’s tenure as governor. The party is calling on security agencies, the National Judicial Council, and the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate how Kamarawa was released while his case was still pending.

The APC rejects claims linking Matawalle to criminal elements, noting that appointments into sensitive national offices require security clearance by relevant agencies. The party believes that the latest allegations are politically motivated and connected to internal tensions within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

During his tenure as governor, Matawalle implemented peace initiatives with bandit groups, which led to the surrender of arms, the reopening of markets, and improved security in parts of the state. Bello Turji has publicly denied any relationship with Matawalle on multiple occasions. The APC is urging the public to disregard what it describes as unfounded allegations against the minister.

The APC’s statement highlights the ongoing tensions between the state government and the former governor, with the party accusing the government of using public resources to discredit Matawalle. The allegations against Matawalle have sparked concerns about the politicization of security issues in the region, with the APC calling for an investigation into the release of the suspected bandit and the alleged campaign against the minister.