Zamfara State North-West Nigeria, has been a State blessed with many natural resources. Gold, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Iron Ore, Tantalite, and Columbite, are naturally surplus. The State is very much into Agriculture and the presence of tourist sites like the Kuyallo Waterfalls, Goronyo Dam, and Zamfara Museum portrays how the state was very much open to visitors and investors not until the gradual rise of the deadly sects began to gather momentum.
In 2011, banditry erupted from mini activities like cattle rustling and Petty thefts. This was strongly likened to the Fulani Herdsmen and Local Bandits. Further escalations emerged in 2014 as Bandits began attacks on Villages, carrying out killing and kidnapping activities. As a result of this the Zamfara State Government, in the outburst of these activities, established several Military Operations but the attempt to curb the violence failed. More notorious bandits like the Buharin Daji and Turji surfaced and more Massacres, attacks, kidnappings, demands for ransom, terrorism, and great intimidation gripped residents with great fear.
Matawalle’s Rule in Zamfara State
Before becoming the present Minister of States for Defence, Matawalle served as the governor of Zamfara State. His Political career can be traced back to his appointment as a commossioner in the Sani Yerima’s administration between 1999 to 2003, after which he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives. After four years, He continued being voted to serve in the Zamfara State’s House of Assembly between 2015 and 2019. Under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), He contested and won in 2019 to become the 5th Governor of the State. In 2021, Matawalle defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2021, and after his Governorship tenure ended in 2023, He was appointed the Minister of States for Defense by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The Accusation
Following the non-stop banditry attacks in the state, terrible accusations are gaining high momentum in the country as the Governor of Zamfara State revealed how Bello Matawalle the current Nigerian Minister of Defence is part of the cause of the security degrading of Zamfara and some neighboring States. Not long ago, a renowned cleric, Mallam Bello Asada, also made an explosive accusation against the Minister. He mentioned that most of the bandits have received vehicles like Hilux from the minister to enhance their wicked acts. The cleric also stated that the minister is fully aware of a notorious bandit’s whereabouts (Turji), and expressed concerns about the involvement of people from the government to keep the matter worst on a daily basis.
In an interview on Wednesday, Dauda Lawal claimed that there is credible information being gathered, and more investigations are ongoing:
“From all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry issue”————- Gov. Dauda Lawal
The Minister’s Media consultant, Deyemi Saka, denied the accusation and said that the claim is unfounded.
