Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence and former governor of Zamfara State, has once again denied any links to the bandits terrorizing the region, following renewed accusations from prominent figures.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Matawalle described the allegations as baseless and challenged his accusers to take an oath to prove their claims.
Matawalle, who initiated dialogue with bandits during his tenure as governor, has been accused by retired General Ali Gusau of working with the criminals. These accusations were further echoed by current Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, who suggested that Matawalle should step down from his position and clear his name.
Lawal also alleged that during Matawalle’s administration, ransom payments were facilitated through the state government to secure the release of kidnapped individuals, including the children of a permanent secretary.
In response, Matawalle emphasized that his actions were driven by security recommendations and that he has no regrets about the approach he took to combat banditry.
“I initiated the dialogue because when I became governor, I looked at the scenarios which were happening,” Matawalle explained. “We had a recommendation that the only option was to dialogue with the bandits. I sat down with the security agencies, traditional rulers, and all stakeholders, and that was the recommendation we had.”
He added that the dialogue resulted in significant gains for Zamfara, including the recovery of arms and the release of thousands of abducted persons.
“We secured the release of victims without ransom, including Dauda Lawal’s 18-year-old brother, who was released unconditionally after seven months of captivity,” he said.
Addressing accusations of his involvement in banditry, Matawalle said, “I was the only governor who swore by the holy Quran that I have no hand or connections to banditry. I swore that if I was part of it, or if I knew those who were doing it, God should not give me a one-second grace.”
He then challenged Gusau, Lawal, and other political figures to take the same oath.
“None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t, it means they are part of it,” he asserted.
Matawalle acknowledged that his efforts to root out criminal elements in Zamfara had made him unpopular, stating, “The people who oppose me do so because I go after them.”
The former governor’s statements come amid continued insecurity in Zamfara, where banditry has devastated communities. While his dialogue approach has been controversial, Matawalle defended it as a necessary step, noting that other governors, such as those in Niger and Sokoto states, have also engaged in similar negotiations with bandits.
Despite the accusations against him, Matawalle remains steadfast, insisting that his actions were in the best interest of the people of Zamfara.
“I have always acted in good faith,” he concluded.