Banditry: Zamfara Governor Accuses Defence Minister, Reports Him to NSA

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday, stated that both the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and President Bola Tinubu were informed about the alleged involvement of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in the ongoing banditry crisis in the state.

Governor Lawal disclosed that he had formally reported the matter to the NSA and President, presenting them with evidence supporting his claims. This revelation follows Matawalle’s recent public denial of any connection to the bandits.

In a recent appearance on Channels Television, Matawalle, who previously served as the governor of Zamfara, challenged Governor Lawal and General Ali Gusau (retd.) to swear on the Holy Quran that they were not involved in the banditry plaguing Zamfara and the broader North-West region. Matawalle defended his past actions, stating that his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits was a strategic move aimed at reducing violence in the state. He also pointed out that other governors in the region, including those from Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina, had similarly entered talks with bandits in efforts to restore peace.

Reaffirming his innocence, Matawalle further challenged Governor Lawal and General Gusau to publicly swear by the Quran that they had no ties to the armed groups.

However, Sulaiman Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lawal, refuted Matawalle’s claims, labeling them as lies. In an interview on Tuesday, Idris vowed that the governor would soon make public the evidence implicating Matawalle in supporting the bandits. He also noted that Lawal, who is currently abroad, had already sworn on the Quran, denouncing any involvement in banditry and praying for divine punishment upon those responsible for the crisis.

“He [Governor Lawal] has already taken an oath on the Quran, during an event where he expressed grief over the situation. He swore that he had no involvement in the banditry and prayed for God’s wrath on anyone who did,” Idris stated.

Idris accused Matawalle of directly assisting bandits by providing them with vehicles, money, and food supplies, claiming that these acts were not mere allegations but supported by facts known to the NSA. He assured that all evidence would be made public, asserting that Matawalle was seeking a “media trial” and that Governor Lawal was prepared to meet that challenge.

A request for comment sent to Zakari Mijinyawa, spokesperson for the NSA, went unanswered, and there has been no confirmation yet on whether an official investigation into the allegations has been launched.

Meanwhile, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi clarified that the police are not the lead agency in the operations against banditry in Zamfara. Efforts to reach Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, were unsuccessful at the time of this report. However, when contacted, Buba directed inquiries to the minister’s office.