Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has dismissed allegations made by wanted terrorist leader Bello Turji, who accused him of complicity in terrorism in Nigeria.
Turji made these claims in a viral video, asserting that the former Zamfara State governor had supported the insecurity plaguing the country.
Turji, known for his terrorist activities in northern Nigeria, including a massacre in Zamfara State in January 2022, claimed to have evidence of Matawalle’s involvement in supporting terrorism. Matawalle, who was appointed as Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023, faced heavy criticism during his tenure as Zamfara’s governor due to severe insecurity issues.
Matawalle, through his media consultants, strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and malicious lies. In a rejoinder signed by Deyemi Saka of Lambert and Curtis, Matawalle’s team emphasized his efforts against banditry during his governorship, highlighting his refusal to negotiate with bandits after the amnesty window closed.
The statement also accused Governor Dauda Lawal, Matawalle’s successor, of having connections with terrorists and supporting their activities. Matawalle’s media consultants urged Nigerians to refrain from using insecurity issues for political gain and stressed Matawalle’s commitment to national security and public safety.
In the video, Turji alleged that the previous government in Zamfara, under Matawalle, had facilitated and sabotaged negotiations with terrorists, and he offered to provide evidence to support his claims. However, Matawalle’s team dismissed these accusations, suggesting that Turji was engaging in a “victim mentality” and attempting to distract from his own criminal activities.