The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said investigations are actively underway into allegations of banditry sponsorship in the North-West region.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, DHQ’s Director of Media Operations, confirmed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, stating that relevant authorities assigned with such responsibilities were thoroughly reviewing the situation.
The development follows accusations and counter-accusations over banditry sponsorship by the Minister of State for Defence and immediate past governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, and his successor, Dauda Lawal.
On Tuesday, Matawalle challenged Lawal to swear by the Holy Qur’an that he was not involved in the sponsoring of bandits.
Lawal responded by promising to produce evidence against the minister, noting that he had also reported the matter to the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu.
When asked about the military’s role in the claims against the two influential Nigerians, DHQ spokesperson Buba stated that the subject was being investigated.
“When you talk about what’s going on about the sponsors, I can assure you that the relevant agencies that are saddled with that responsibility are doing a good job. And sooner than later, you will hear some announcements in that regard,” he said.
Regardless, Buba stated that the military was committed to winning the war against bandits and eradicating their fighting spirit.
He said, “Winning a war is destroying the enemy’s will to fight. When you destroy the enemy’s will to fight, the war is over; you have won the war. And that’s why we are focused on destroying the enemy’s will to fight.”
Buba stated that between July and September 2024, the troops killed 1,937 terrorists, including 65 major insurgency leaders.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Tinubu Youth Network, a support organisation inside the ruling All Progressives Congress, urged that Matawalle resign as Minister of State for Defence.
Addressing a news conference in Kaduna on Thursday, TYN Secretary General Yusuf Muhammad stated that the allegations against Matawalle were too serious to ignore and that they were detrimental to the APC’s image.
“We want a thorough investigation to clear Matawalle’s name and uphold our party’s integrity. Association with individuals responsible for heinous crimes undermines our party’s values and the President’s anti-corruption agenda,” Muhammad said.
He stated that loyalty to the President should not be a reason to shield Matawalle from investigation, arguing that “loyalty should not supersede accountability. We urge Matawalle to step down and subject himself to a thorough investigation.
“The Tinubu Youth Network is compelled to make a public appeal after several unsuccessful attempts to contact the leaders of our ruling party, the APC, regarding the allegations made by the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, against his predecessor and now the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
“A series of interviews granted on national television have gone viral. In these interviews, the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, raised grave concerns about the issues he inherited upon assuming office. These issues include the accusation of sponsoring bandits and misappropriation of state funds by his predecessor and the junior Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle.
“These are serious matters that strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of Zamfara State and should not be handled lightly.
“We consider it our responsibility as youth to seek a thorough investigation into these serious claims to uphold the integrity of our party and our esteemed leader, the President. Failing to address these issues could hurt our party in the future.
“We want to emphasise that the issues at stake here are not just political problems; they encompass matters of life and death, economic survival, and the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara State, the North-West, and Nigeria as a whole.
“This is why we are urging our esteemed leader, the President, to launch an investigation into the numerous allegations levelled against the state minister for defence, Bello Matawalle.”
Attempts to contact Matawalle on Thursday were futile, as multiple calls to his aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, went unanswered. He had also yet to respond to a message addressed to him at the time of filing this article.
