Former Zamfara State Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has defended his administration’s negotiations with bandits during his time in office, describing the move as an effort to restore peace and security to the state.
In an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Matawalle responded to allegations from Governor Dauda Lawal, who had accused him of sponsoring banditry and harboring terrorists in the Zamfara Government House. Matawalle firmly denied the claims, calling for evidence to back up the accusations.
“They should bring any proof of that,” the minister said, dismissing the allegations as baseless. “Because I dialogue[d], it was not only I. Remember, all the governors dialogue[d]; the governor of Niger State dialogue[d] with bandits, the governor of Sokoto did the same. Why only me? Because it is Zamfara?”
Matawalle further defended his actions, citing the recovery of arms and the restoration of relative peace during his tenure. He also swore an oath of innocence, challenging his political opponents, including General Ali Gusau and current Governor Dauda Lawal, to do the same.
“I was the only governor that swore to the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connection with banditry. If I am part of it or know those doing it, may God not give me one second of grace,” Matawalle stated. “I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t, that means they are part of it.”
Matawalle acknowledged the complexity of Zamfara State, referring to the presence of “devilish” individuals with malicious intentions but reaffirmed that his government acted in the state’s best interests.
“Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas,” he added. “But I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits.”
Matawalle’s defense of his approach comes amidst a broader debate on how best to address the persistent insecurity in Zamfara and other parts of northern Nigeria plagued by banditry and insurgency.
