Tinubu’s Minister Under Fire For Alleged Links To Bandits

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is under intense scrutiny following allegations linking him to terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.

The accusations suggest that Matawalle, during his tenure as the Governor of Zamfara State, procured vehicles for notorious bandit leaders, including the infamous kingpin Bello Turji.

In a recent appearance on TVC, current Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal urged Matawalle to resign in light of the serious allegations.

“If I were him, 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,” Lawal stated.

Governor Lawal further claimed that Matawalle had provided refuge for terrorists in the government house and facilitated ransom payments to bandits through government channels.

He referenced allegations of misappropriation involving a staggering ₦70 billion, stating, “In May 2023, there was this allegation of misappropriation of N70bn. We realised that the N70bn was a child’s play compared to what we have. This information is before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and I wonder how this guy was cleared by the security operatives to become a minister.

“We are still waiting to hear from the EFCC; the case has been on for a year now. This is people’s money; we need the money in Zamfara to address the challenges we are facing.”

This is not the first time Matawalle has faced allegations of supporting banditry. In January 2022, while serving as governor, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for his resignation over similar claims.

At that time, the All Progressives Congress (APC) defended Matawalle, suggesting the allegations were politically motivated due to his defection from the PDP.

According to Saturday Punch, an Islamic cleric, Bello Asada, also publicly accused Matawalle of providing vehicles to bandits, intensifying calls for an inquiry into the former governor’s actions.

The cleric who spoke in a video said, “You didn’t love especially because of God. Murtala Bello said your godfather has bought vehicles for terrorists, among them is this Halilu Subububu. The defence (state) minister has bought a brand new car and given it to him (is he not the one who’s called ‘Wankin Dan Kanoma’). There is also Ada Aleru.

“I know that he has purchased about 34 vehicles and distributed them to leaders of terrorists. He (Halilu) who I was accused of purchasing a car; was the Zamfara State governor who gave him a brand new 2019 model Hilux, not a second-hand car. People like Ado Aleru were given. I was with the police; Bello Turji was given.

“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 further questioned why Turji, despite being a notorious criminal with a visible presence on social media, had not been captured.

Turji has terrorized Zamfara State by killing, kidnapping, and extorting residents for nearly nine years.

His activities gained public attention after a series of videos surfaced on social media, where he also accused Matawalle of sponsoring banditry in the state.