Former Zamfara State Governor and Nigeria’s current junior defence minister, Bello Matawalle, has hit back at allegations of terrorism levelled against him by notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji.
Turji, who’s been linked to numerous attacks in northern Nigeria, claimed in a social media video that Matawalle’s policies as governor led to the escalation of banditry in the region. He even went as far as to accuse Matawalle of pampering a particular group of bandits and hosting them at the Government House.
However, Matawalle has denied any involvement in terrorist activities, calling the claims “baseless” and “concocted lies” designed to discredit him.
In a statement, Matawalle’s media team said that his efforts as governor (2019-2023) saw banditry and crime tackled head-on. The statement said the former governor refused to negotiate with bandits after his amnesty window closed, with all seized arms submitted to the relevant security agencies.
The Minister’s team also said that Turji’s allegations are a classic case of “victim mentality” and a desperate attempt to shift the blame.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
