The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced on Thursday that investigations are actively ongoing into allegations of bandit sponsorship in Nigeria’s North West region.
This follows accusations between the former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, who is now the Minister of State for Defence, and his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal. Both officials have publicly accused each other of sponsoring banditry in the region.
On Tuesday, Matawalle dared Lawal to swear on the Holy Qur’an to prove his non-involvement in banditry sponsorship. In retaliation, Governor Lawal promised to release evidence implicating Matawalle, revealing that the matter had also been reported to the National Security Adviser.
When questioned about the military’s involvement in these serious allegations, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed that relevant agencies are conducting thorough investigations. He declined to name the parties involved but assured the public of significant developments soon.
Buba stated, “I can assure you that the relevant agencies tasked with investigating these sponsors are doing their job. Sooner than later, there will be announcements in that regard.”
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Buba emphasized that the military’s primary focus remains the fight against banditry, stressing that defeating such criminal elements requires breaking their resolve. “Winning a war is about destroying the enemy’s will to fight. Once that will is destroyed, the war is effectively over,” he added.
Major Military Successes Reported
Speaking further on military achievements between July and September 2024, Major General Buba disclosed that Nigerian troops had successfully neutralized 1,937 terrorists, including 65 key commanders and leaders across various theatres of operation.
Among the high-profile terrorist figures eliminated were Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir, Kachalla Ɗan Baleri, Kachalla Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, and others.
In addition to these eliminations, Buba noted that a total of 2,782 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements had been arrested during this period. Moreover, 1,854 kidnapped hostages were successfully rescued, and significant weaponry was recovered, including 1,304 arms and 43,347 rounds of ammunition.
Crackdown on Oil Theft Yields ₦13bn Recovery
In another notable achievement, troops thwarted large-scale oil theft operations, recovering crude oil worth an estimated ₦13 billion. This includes the seizure of 12,143,870 liters of stolen crude, 2,623,216 liters of illegally refined AGO (Automotive Gas Oil), 6,970 liters of DPK (Dual-Purpose Kerosene), and 31,450 liters of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit).
Buba highlighted that these efforts have significantly boosted Nigeria’s daily crude oil production, bringing the country closer to meeting its national targets.
He concluded, “The military’s commitment remains unwavering in protecting national assets and ensuring that criminal activities, such as banditry and oil theft, are curtailed for the peace and security of the nation.”
