The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations that Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle is linked to banditry and insecurity in the North. The party points to repeated denials by bandit leaders, including video statements from Bello Turji, who has said he has no relationship with Matawalle—either during his tenure as governor or as minister. The APC argues that these denials indicate a political plot against the former governor.
According to the APC, 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 claims the state is using public resources to mobilise individuals and groups across Northern Nigeria and parts of the South to spread claims linking Matawalle to insecurity. One participant reportedly admitted receiving money from the state government for this purpose.
The APC has also questioned the release of suspected bandit Musa Kamarawa, who was arrested during Matawalle’s governorship. The party is calling on security agencies, the National Judicial Council and the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate how Kamarawa was freed while his case was still pending.
Rejecting the accusations, the APC notes that appointments to sensitive national offices require security clearance by the relevant agencies. It characterises the latest allegations as politically motivated, tied 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, leading to the surrender of arms, the reopening of markets and improved security in parts of the state.
The APC urges the public to disregard what it describes as unfounded allegations against the minister and highlights the ongoing tension between the state government and the former governor. It accuses the government of using public resources to discredit Matawalle and calls for an investigation into both the release of the suspected bandit and the alleged campaign against the minister.
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