Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence has debunked allegations made against him by a wanted terrorist kingpin Bello Turji, stating that he tackled banditry during his tenure as governor of the state.
Turji accused Matawalle, a former Governor of Zamfara State, of empowering terrorists during his tenure.
Turji, who has been a central figure in the region’s violence, stated that Matawalle’s amnesty scheme, which provided financial rewards to bandits who surrendered, ultimately backfired and escalated insecurity in the state.
He also claimed that many bandits used financial incentives to bolster their operations instead of surrendering their arms as agreed.
However, Matawalle, through his media consultants on Sunday, denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded lies deliberately concocted against him.
A rejoinder signed by Deyemi Saka, said the cache of arms recovered from the terrorists was handed over to relevant security agencies of government.
Matawalle also accused his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, of being close to terrorists.
He claimed there are also videos in circulation that captured wild jubilation in the camps of bandits celebrating the electoral victory of Lawal, pledging loyalty to him and reminding him to fulfil his promises to them in return for their support for him.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to a video shared on the X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook page of your media organisation in which baseless, malicious, unfounded, mischievous and deliberate concocted lies were told against the Honourable Minister of State for Defense, H.E Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle.
“We are not unmindful of the sustained attacks on the person, integrity, and patriotic sense of duty of our client. What we find disheartening and despicable is the brazen disregard for public safety and national security.
“While the video speaks to its discredibility, it is pertinent to address the outlandish allegations made by Bello Turji, a wanted kingpin of banditry.
“It is noteworthy that the efforts of the honourable minister of state, while as Governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023, saw banditry and all other sundry of criminality tackled head-on.
“His demonstration of the strength of Character by insisting he was not going to negotiate with Bandits after the closure of the amnesty window for them to lay down their arms, and strong insistence of Bello Turji doing such is enough motivation for the hatchet man job is he doing.
“All arms seized, recovered, and received from bandits were submitted at Government House Gusau, and there is a record for it. The Government House does not have an armoury, and it is also on record that the cache of arms was handed over to relevant security agencies of government.
“And in a total breach to the constitution he swore to uphold, Governor Dauda Lawal can be said to be in bed with this criminal element and giving him justification for his numerous acts of criminality.
“There are also videos in circulation that captured wild jubilation in the camps of these bandits celebrating the electoral victory of Governor Dauda Lawal and pledging loyalty to him and reminding him to fulfil his promises to them in return of their support for him.
“While we admit these damning allegations are attempts to distract and discredit our client, it is just one of such attempts that could not deter Dr. Matawalle from carrying out his duties in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and also spur him to be more committed to his assigned task and stop at nothing to see that peace is restored across the country, and we have a stable national security and public safety.
“We urge prominent and eminent Nigerians to desist from resorting to using matters of insecurity to settle political rifts and gain notorious popularity.”
