Reported by: L. Imafidon | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A prominent northern pressure group has sharply criticised Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, alleging troubling links to bandit networks in Zamfara State and urging the National Assembly to launch a full investigation into the claims. The outcry comes amid intensifying scrutiny over security policy, political rivalries in the North-West, and persistent instability tied to organised criminal gangs terrorising large swathes of the region.
The Coalition of Northern Groups, an influential advocacy organisation, released a statement this week asserting that credible concerns have emerged suggesting that senior government figures may maintain improper connections with armed bandit groups operating in Zamfara and neighbouring states. The coalition said such links undermine the federal government’s security strategy and threaten national cohesion at a time when efforts to quell insurgency and criminality in the banditry-plagued states have become a central focus for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The group’s declaration stirred political debate across Nigeria, where longstanding tensions over security governance have been compounded by divergent narratives around the causes and solutions to banditry. Leaders of the coalition called on the National Assembly to exercise oversight and compel security agencies to conduct a transparent, comprehensive inquiry into the allegations and provide public clarity on the minister’s conduct. They argued that parliamentary scrutiny is essential to uphold accountability and reassure Nigerians anxious about security and governance.
At the heart of the dispute are long-running accusations linking Dr Matawalle to armed gangs that have engaged in kidnappings, cattle rustling, mass killings and other atrocities in communities across Zamfara and the broader North-West. These claims have been made by political opponents and former aides who allege that vehicles, funds, or other forms of material support were provided to bandit groups during the minister’s tenure as governor of Zamfara State prior to his federal appointment. One recent statement by a former aide alleged purchases and deliveries of vehicles to several notorious gang leaders and funding transfers from local councils — assertions that if true would constitute serious breaches of law and policy.
Dr Matawalle has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing allegations as politically motivated and recycled claims lacking substantiation. He has previously challenged critics to declare their innocence under religious oaths, insisting that he acted in good faith while addressing deep-seated insecurity in the state. His defenders point to his ongoing role in coordinating national efforts to counter banditry and terrorism, highlighting collaborative operations with military and security agencies that have yielded the deaths or capture of many high-profile criminal figures.
The minister’s tenure has been marked by significant controversy. Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, who succeeded Matawalle as governor, has been among the most vocal critics, repeatedly calling on Matawalle to resign and face investigations into alleged complicity with banditry and financial misconduct during his time as state governor. Lawal has said that if Matawalle genuinely believed in his innocence, he should step aside and confront the allegations openly.
These political tensions reflect broader fissures in Nigeria’s approach to insecurity in the north. Zamfara State, long a locus of banditry and criminal violence, has seen fluctuating fortunes as successive governments struggle to contain armed groups that exploit porous borders, rugged terrain, and socio-economic grievances. The federal government has deployed military assets and bolstered joint task forces to counter the threat, with officials asserting that coordinated operations have degraded criminal networks and restored some measure of stability to afflicted communities.
Supporters of Matawalle have pointed to recent security operations as evidence of his commitment to rooting out armed criminality. They credit programmes under his oversight with the neutralisation of notorious bandit leaders and the reopening of previously insecure road corridors, arguing that such achievements belie any notion of collusion with criminal elements. Some youth organisations in Zamfara have gone further, dismissing the allegations as baseless and recycled from past political disputes, while celebrating what they describe as tangible improvements in peace and community safety under current security strategies.
Despite the contrasting narratives, analysts warn that the political polarisation surrounding these allegations risks distracting from the core security challenges facing northern Nigeria. Banditry, kidnapping and related violent crime remain entrenched, fueled by economic deprivation, weak governance, and the proliferation of small arms. Experts suggest that without a unified political front and sustained socio-economic investment, such issues will persist, regardless of individual office-holders’ reputations.
The call for a National Assembly probe adds a new dimension to the dispute. Nigeria’s parliament has powers to summon witnesses, review classified information, and recommend executive actions — mechanisms that could potentially shed light on the competing claims. Legislators from both ruling and opposition parties expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting oversight as a democratic imperative, while others warned against what they described as unnecessary politicisation of security matters at a time when cooperative action is crucial.
International observers have also weighed in, emphasising the importance of transparent governance and accountability in counter-terrorism and counter-crime campaigns. They contend that allegations involving senior officials, if left unresolved, can erode public trust and diminish confidence in state institutions. For communities in Zamfara and the wider North-West, where insecurity has inflicted deep trauma and economic disruption, clarity and accountability from leaders are seen as essential components of long-term peace and stability.
As political stakeholders prepare for heated debate in legislative chambers, civil society groups and citizens alike are calling for evidence-based resolution of the contentious claims. Many urge that any investigation should be independent, free from partisan influence, and focused on reinforcing the rule of law. In a nation grappling with multiple security fronts — from insurgency in the northeast to banditry in the northwest and communal conflicts elsewhere — such steps are widely viewed as critical to building durable peace and reinforcing democratic principles.
The unfolding developments around Dr Matawalle’s alleged links and the ensuing calls for parliamentary oversight signal a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to balance political contestation with the imperative of national security. With stakeholders on all sides entrenched in their positions, the path forward remains contested, underscoring the complex interplay between governance, accountability and the quest for peace in one of Africa’s most populous and diverse nations.
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