Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, says repeated public denials by bandit leaders of any association with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, point to what it described as a political plot against the former governor.
The party alleged that despite such denials, the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal has continued campaigns aimed at linking Matawalle to banditry and insecurity in the North, allegedly to pressure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove him from office.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party cited video recordings in which bandit leader Bello Turji denied ever working for or being sponsored by Matawalle, either during his tenure as governor or as minister.
The APC alleged that the state government was using public resources to mobilise individuals and groups, including religious figures, political agents and protesters, across different parts of the country to promote claims linking Matawalle to insecurity.
According to the party, some individuals were stationed across Northern Nigeria and parts of the South to propagate such narratives, while it claimed that one of those involved had admitted to receiving money from the state government.
The APC also raised questions over the release of Musa Kamarawa, a suspected bandit arrested during Matawalle’s tenure as governor over alleged gun-running and banditry-related offences.
It called on security agencies, the National Judicial Council, NJC, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and civil society organisations to investigate how Kamarawa was released while his case was allegedly still pending.
The party rejected claims linking Matawalle to criminal elements, noting that appointments into sensitive national offices require security clearance by relevant agencies.
It also referred to previous allegations against the minister, including protests allegedly organised outside Zamfara State calling for his removal.
According to the APC, the latest allegations are politically motivated and connected to internal tensions within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The party further referenced Matawalle’s tenure as governor, citing the implementation of peace initiatives with bandit groups, which it said led to the surrender of arms, the reopening of markets and improved security in parts of the state.
It added that Bello Turji had on more than one occasion publicly denied any relationship with Matawalle.
The party urged the public to disregard what it described as unfounded allegations against the minister.
Zamfara APC alleges plot to link Matawalle with banditry
