The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle described allegations made against him by a wanted terrorist leader, Bello Turji in a viral video as falsehood.
Turji has accused the minister of complicity in terrorism in Nigeria.
In August 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of Matawalle, the former Zamfara state governor, as the Minister of State for Defence.
Mattawalle’s previous role as governor was marked by heavy criticism due to insecurity issues that plagued Zamfara state under his administration.
Bello Turji Kachalla, popularly known as Turji, is a wanted Nigerian terrorist operating in northern Nigerian states, including Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger.
The 28-year-old terrorist leader allegedly led an attack from January 4 to 6, 2022, where over 200 people including women and children were reportedly massacred in Zamfara State.
Turji, in a video obtained by SaharaReporters alleged that the issue of insecurity plaguing the country had the full backing of the immediate past governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence.
He said he had evidence to support this claim.
However, Matawalle, through his media consultants on Sunday, denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded lies.
A rejoinder signed by Deyemi Saka, Lead Partner at Lambert and Curtis, said, “Our attention has been drawn to a video shared on the X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook page of a popular digital media organisation in which baseless, malicious, unfounded, mischievous and deliberate concocted lies were told against the Honourable Minister of State for Defense, H.E Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle.
“We are not unmindful of the sustained attacks on the person, integrity, and patriotic sense of duty of our client. What we find disheartening and despicable is the brazen disregard for public safety and national security.
“While the video speaks to its discredibility, it is pertinent to address the outlandish allegations made by Bello Turji, a wanted kingpin of banditry.
“It is noteworthy that the efforts of the honourable minister of state, while as Governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023, saw banditry and all other sundry of criminality tackled head on.
“His demonstration of strength of Character by insisting he was not going to negotiate with Bandits after the closure of the amnesty window for them to lay down their arms, and strong insistence of Bello Turji doing such is enough motivation for the hatchet man job is he doing.”
According to the Matawalle’s media consultants, “all arms seized, recovered, and received from bandits were submitted at Government House Gusau, and there is a record for it”.
It said, “The Government House does not have armoury, and it is also on record that the cache of arms was handed over to relevant security agencies of government.
“Anyone with basic knowledge of psychoanalysis of a terrorist and deranged mind like Turji will know that he is engaging in “victim mentality.’”
Instead, Matawalle’s media consultants accused Governor Dauda Lawal – his successor – of being close to terrorists.
The rejoinder read, “And in a total breach to the constitution he swore to uphold, Governor Dauda Lawal can be said to be in bed with this criminal element and giving him justification for his numerous acts of criminality.
“There are also videos in circulation that captured wild jubilation in the camps of these bandits celebrating the electoral victory of Governor Dauda Lawal and pledging loyalty to him and reminded him to fulfil his promises to them in return of their support for him.
“While we admit these damning allegations are attempts to distract and discredit our client, it is just one of such attempts that could not deter Dr. Matawalle from carrying out his duties in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and also spur him to be more committed to his assigned task and stop at nothing to see that peace is restored across the country, and we have a stable national security and public safety.
“We urge prominent and eminent Nigerians to desist from resorting to using matters of insecurity to settle political rifts and gain notorious popularity.”
Speaking in Hausa in the video, Turji said, “My name is Muhammed Bello Turji, and I am releasing this video to reach all Nigerians, from the leaders to the poor. This is the message I want to convey to everyone.
“The issue of insecurity plaguing our country has the full backing of the immediate past Government of Zamfara State. I have evidence to support this claim. The past government, under His Excellency Bello Mattawalle Maradun (State Minister of Defence), is well-known to everyone in the region.
“This government has been complicit in backing terrorism. There are individuals from Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Issah who cannot deny this video.
“Many Nigerians, for example those in Bauchi or Kaduna, may not be aware of the problems in Zamfara. However, I want to assure the federal government that if they are unaware, I will provide names, details, and evidence. I urge them to investigate the past actions of these individuals and their discussions with them. As a citizen of this zone (North West), I swear before God that I speak the truth.
“The past Government of Zamfara, under Mattawalle, facilitated negotiations but also sabotaged efforts. There were multiple negotiations, but the dialogue did not succeed because everyone in Shinkafi and Isah knows the truth.
“The late Dillu, for example, was chased away by me because he refused to allow peace to reign in Shinkafi. They possessed more than 200 rifles, and Matawalle invited them to the Government House. If I am lying, there are still in people in the Government House who can explain this.
“When we killed Dillu, Kabiru Maniya should explain where the federal or the Zamfara and Sokoto state governments had a dialogue with him to drop his arms. Bashari Maniya should also tell us where he hid his weapons. Everyone knows that they have over 300 rifles out of which I took 30. Let them come out and tell the truth about what is going on.”
“As we speak, they are in Sokoto city. People like Malam Murtala Asada (Islamic scholar) has been saying that there are other Turjis (Bandits) walking freely in the city of Sokoto,” he said referring to Maniya and his cohort who supposedly has over 300 rifles hidden somewhere.
