Baseless Accusations – Defence Minister Denies Sponsoring Bandits

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has strongly denied accusations from Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, who has implicated him in banditry activities within the state.

In a statement issued by Matawalle’s media team, the Minister refuted these claims, arguing that Governor Lawal has persistently tried to smear his name by associating him with criminal elements.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the statement pointed out that such allegations are not new, emphasizing Matawalle’s consistent denials of any involvement in criminal activities.

The media team also referenced a recent video in which the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, made similar accusations against the Minister. These allegations were dismissed as unfounded and were seen as attempts to divert attention from the ongoing security challenges in Zamfara.

The escalating feud between Matawalle and Lawal has heightened concerns over the state’s security, as both officials continue to exchange heated accusations.

The statement, signed by Matawalle’s media aide, Dayemi Saka, condemned the accusations as baseless and highlighted Matawalle’s past efforts in combating banditry during his tenure as governor.

Saka’s statement reiterated that all arms recovered from bandits during Matawalle’s governorship were handed over to security agencies, and there is documented evidence to support this. The statement also criticized the psychological tactics used by bandits like Turji, who seek to play the “victim” while engaging in criminal activities.

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Turji, in the controversial video, had accused Matawalle of favoring certain bandit groups during his time as governor, alleging that the former governor had failed to disarm these groups, leading to an escalation of violence in the region.

Click here to watch our video of the week