Banditry In Zamfara: Probe Matawalle’s Alleged Involvement Now – TYN Tasks Tinubu

A political pressure group on the aegis of ‘Tinubu Youth Network (TYN)’ has tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgent national interest, set up a probe panel to unravel the of involvement of the Mnister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle with banditry in Zamfara State.

The group said that its demand followed the serious and weighty allegations levelled against Matawalle by the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Dare Lawal stating that the Minister is seriously linked to the leaders of terrorists and the sponsorship of banditry in the state.

At a press conference in kaduna on Thursday, the Secretary General of TYN,

Yusuf Mohammad, Secretary General of TYN told journalists at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, September 26, 2024 that his group was compelled to make a public appeal to President Tinubu after several failed attempts to contact the leaders of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), withregards to the enormity of the allegations by Governor Lawal of Zamfara State against the minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

According to Mohammad; “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.

“We want to emphasize 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 Northwest, 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 Minister of State, Bello Matawalle.

“We must be concerned as loyal party members about these issues. Serious challenges and campaigns are underway across the country, targeting the hard-earned reputation of our leader, the president,” he said.

Mohammed further said that the group’s demand for a thorough investigation is not to castigate Bello Matawalle, but to safeguard the integrity of the APC and President Tinubu’s good image, stressing that it is also imperative that Bello Matawalle should be removed from his position to allow the investigative panel carry out the probe without interference.

The TYN also said; “The Minister of State for Defence should clarify his connections with dangerous individuals like Bello Tagoji, Musa Kamarawa, and Ardon Zuru. Kachalla Auwalun Daudawa is a bandit who abducted the Kankara students in 2020.

“There are heavy and serious allegations that Matawalle bought a house for him in the Damba area of Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.

“When Bello Tagoji, a bandit warlord, was arrested in January 2023, the commissioner for Security, DIG Mamman Tsafe, went to bail him out on Matawalle’s directive. These are not abstract concerns. They represent actual, tangible violations of the rights of Zamfara’s citizens — the right to education, healthcare, economic security, and to live free from the constant threat of banditry and violence.”

“It is precisely these issues that should be at the forefront of any reasonable Nigerian who means well for the country and our dear party. The claim that Matawalle remains loyal to President Tinubu and has the full trust of the administration is quite concerning.

“Since when has loyalty to a sitting president become a measure by which an individual accused of associating with dangerous bandits should be unquestionably protected? Bello Matawalle is not the only minister in our government.

“Why is he the only one with so many questionable pasts and heavily surrounded by allegations? Why is it that nobody is accusing the substantive and senior Defence Minister, His Excellency Badaru, of involvement with bandits or any killer group?

“Any sensible person who has the interest of our party at heart, must be worried,” Mohammed said.