On Tuesday, hundreds of aggrieved women and youths from Zamfara State gathered in Abuja to protest outside the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS), decrying the escalating insecurity in their state.
The protesters attributed the worsening security situation to Bello Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara and current Minister of State for Defence, accusing him of fostering relationships with bandits during his tenure as governor. They argued that this alleged association has contributed to the current rise in bandit activities.
Arriving at the DSS headquarters at around 10:15 a.m. in a convoy of 12 buses, the demonstrators were prevented from entering the agency’s premises. This demonstration follows a recent call by the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to strengthen the fight against banditry in the region.
The protesters carried placards with messages such as “We are dying” and “DSS, save us from bandits,” urging DSS Director-General Adeola Ajayi to take immediate action.
Speaking to journalists, Mallam Musa Mahmud, the leader of the protest and Chairman of the APC Akida Forum, expressed disappointment that President Bola Tinubu had not dismissed Matawalle from his ministerial role, despite evidence presented by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Mahmud insisted that Matawalle should face an investigation rather than be shielded due to his political connections. “This is more than a political issue,” he said. “It concerns life and death, economic survival, and the fundamental human rights of Zamfara’s citizens. We expect the DSS to carry out a thorough investigation to protect the lives of millions of Nigerians and uphold the integrity of the President and the intelligence community.”
He continued, “The DSS is in the best position to advise President Tinubu to relieve Matawalle of his position, so he can face an investigative panel and explain his connections with individuals like Bello Tagoji, Musa Kamarawa, and Ardon Zuru. These are not abstract concerns. Zamfara citizens have the right to live free from the constant threat of banditry and violence.”
At the time of this report, Matawalle’s media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, had not responded to multiple calls or messages regarding the allegations against the minister.
