Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence and former governor of Zamfara State, is facing mounting criticism after being accused of having ties to notorious bandit leaders in the country.
Allegations have surfaced claiming that during his tenure as governor, Matawalle provided vehicles to these criminals, including one of the most wanted bandit leaders, Bello Turji.
The current governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has urged Matawalle to step down from his ministerial position and address the serious allegations. During an appearance on national television station TVC, Lawal stated, “If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me because, from all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry.”
According to Lawal, during Matawalle’s time as governor, terrorists operated freely, with some even staying at the government house, and ransoms were allegedly paid to bandits under the government’s direction. Lawal also pointed to allegations of misappropriation of ₦70 billion, claiming that the issue goes much deeper. “This information is before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and I wonder how this guy was cleared by the security operatives to become a minister,” he added.
The governor expressed frustration over the lack of resolution, saying that the EFCC has been investigating the matter for over a year, but no significant actions have been taken. “This is people’s money; we need the money in Zamfara to address the challenges we are facing,” Lawal emphasized.
Previous Accusations and New Evidence
This is not the first time Matawalle has been linked to banditry. In January 2022, when he was still governor, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for his resignation over similar allegations. The accusations were dismissed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which claimed the PDP was only making such claims because Matawalle had defected to the APC at the time.
Adding to the controversy, Islamic cleric Bello Asada released a video accusing Matawalle of procuring vehicles for bandits. Asada alleged that Matawalle provided around 34 vehicles, including a brand-new 2019 Hilux, to bandit leaders such as Halilu Subububu and Bello Turji. “Decent people like the police, military, and civil defence who are looking for Hilux were not given, only for them to use our money to buy brand new Hiluxes for terrorists,” Asada said in the video, which has been widely circulated on social media.
Asada also questioned why Turji, despite his notoriety, has not been captured. Turji has terrorized Zamfara State for nearly nine years, engaging in kidnappings, killings, and extortion. His activities gained more attention after videos surfaced on social media where he accused Matawalle of sponsoring banditry in the state.
Amnesty Program and Claims of Sabotage
Between 2019 and 2023, Matawalle, as governor, initiated an amnesty program for bandits in Zamfara. However, in a July 2024 video, Turji claimed that the program only empowered some bandit leaders. He accused the former governor of sabotaging his efforts to restore peace in Shinkafi Local Government Area, where Turji claimed to have killed another bandit leader, Dudu, to ensure peace. Turji said, “But the government failed to ask the group to surrender their weapons.”
He further alleged that many bandits who participated in the amnesty program moved to the Sokoto metropolis and continued their criminal activities by giving weapons to their boys, who kidnapped for ransom.
Matawalle’s Response
In response to these accusations, an aide to Matawalle, Dr. Suleiman Shuaib, dismissed them as politically motivated. He described the allegations as baseless and claimed that Governor Lawal was engaging in a “witch-hunt” to smear Matawalle’s image. Shuaib explained that Matawalle had initially engaged in dialogue with bandits to restore peace, but only as a last resort. “When Matawalle became the governor of the state, the most important issue to address was insecurity. People advised him to call the bandit leaders for dialogue, and he accepted,” Shuaib said.
Shuaib added that when the bandits broke their promises and resumed criminal activities, Matawalle took action against them. “He was, and is, never involved in banditry,” Shuaib stated.
Shuaib called on Nigerians to ignore the allegations, accusing Governor Lawal of using the issue for political gain. He urged the governor to focus on addressing insecurity in Zamfara instead of attacking his predecessor. “Zamfara State is on the brink of being swallowed by insecurity, and I want the governor to focus on that,” he said.
Public Reactions and Calls for Clarification
The allegations against Matawalle have sparked concern across the country. Kabir Adamu, Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Limited, remarked that the situation highlights how insecurity in Nigeria has become politicized. He pointed out that while the Zamfara State government has a clear policy of not negotiating with bandits, there is evidence that federal officials have done so. “There is evidence and facts that show that at least some officials at the federal level are negotiating with bandits,” Adamu said.
Ladipo Johnson, spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), expressed concern over Matawalle’s inclusion in President Tinubu’s cabinet. “One wonders what the thought process of Mr. President and his inner team was for putting a person like Matawalle in the cabinet to man the Ministry of Defence,” Johnson said, adding that Matawalle should address the allegations to clear his name.
Johnson also noted that he does not expect Matawalle to resign or respond to the accusations, likening the situation to President Tinubu’s own controversy over his educational certificate. “Matawalle should come out to address the allegations and set the record straight,” he said.