Zamfara APC Dismisses Banditry Allegations Against Matawalle

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to banditry as a politically motivated plot aimed at discrediting the former governor.

The party said repeated public denials by bandit leaders of any association with Matawalle undermine claims being pushed against him.

In a statement on Sunday by the APC Publicity Secretary in the State, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party cited video recordings in which notorious bandit leader Bello Turji categorically denied ever working for, or being sponsored by Matawalle, either during his tenure as governor or in his current role as minister.

According to the APC, despite these denials, the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal, has continued to promote narratives allegedly linking the minister to insecurity in the North, with the intention of pressuring President Bola Tinubu to remove him from office.

The APC further alleged that the state government was deploying public resources to mobilise individuals and groups including religious leaders, political agents and protesters across various parts of the country to amplify claims connecting Matawalle to banditry.

It also claimed that some of these individuals were stationed across Northern Nigeria and parts of the South to spread the narrative, adding that one person involved had admitted to receiving funds from the state government.

The party also raised concerns over the release of a suspected bandit, Musa Kamarawa, who was arrested during Matawalle’s tenure as governor over alleged gun-running and banditry-related offences.

Zamfara APC called on security agencies, the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and civil society organisations to investigate how Kamarawa was released while his case was still pending.

Rejecting claims that Matawalle has links with criminal elements, the APC stressed that appointments to sensitive national offices are subject to thorough security screening and clearance by relevant agencies.

The party recalled earlier allegations against the minister, including protests it said were organised outside Zamfara State demanding his removal from office.

According to the APC, the renewed accusations were tied to internal divisions within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara, as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The APC also pointed to Matawalle’s record as governor, noting that his administration implemented peace initiatives with bandit groups which, it claimed, led to the surrender of arms, the reopening of markets and improved security in parts of the state.

The statement added that Turji had on several occasions publicly denied having any relationship with Matawalle and urged the public to disregard what it described as baseless and politically-driven allegations against the minister.