By Barr. Hamza N Dantani

INTRODUCTION
Northern Nigeria continues to bleed from the scourge of banditry and terrorism. Communities are destroyed, livelihoods lost, and lives cut short. As a lawyer and human rights activist from the Northern part of the country, I have watched with deep concern this persistent insecurity that continues to devastate our region.

Against this grim background, the controversy surrounding the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, cannot be ignored, dismissed, or swept under the carpet. The allegations deserve urgent and sober national attention.

From his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State, Matawalle has been persistently accused of enabling or fraternising with bandits. These allegations were never conclusively investigated before he was appointed Minister of State for Defence under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That decision raised legitimate concerns, given the sensitivity of the office and the gravity of the accusations.
Regrettably, the allegations have not abated. Instead, they have intensified, even as banditry and terrorism continue to ravage Zamfara State and large parts of Northern Nigeria.

CLERICAL WHISTLEBLOWING AND GRAVE ALLEGATIONS
One of the most persistent voices drawing national attention to these allegations is Sheikh Murtala Asada, a cleric based in Sokoto State. The Sheikh has consistently alleged that Bello Matawalle maintained close ties with bandits while serving as governor, accusing him of colluding with, appeasing, and materially supporting armed groups responsible for mass killings, kidnappings, and displacement.

According to Sheikh Asada, Bello Matawalle allegedly distributed vehicles to bandits using public funds during his tenure as governor. He further alleged that Matawalle purchased a house for Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader designated as a terrorist, in Pakai, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. If true, this would amount to financing terrorism, an offence under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The Sheikh also alleged that Matawalle facilitated the release of a known bandit, Haru Dole, by dispatching his aide, Dr. Bashir Maru, to stand as surety at the FIB office. Such conduct, if established, would fall under support for a terrorist group, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Additionally, Matawalle was alleged to have officially distributed 2,000 bags of dusa (chaff) to bandits across fourteen local government areas in Zamfara State, an act that, at the very least, raises troubling questions about state policy and moral judgment in dealing with criminal elements.

Instead of publicly addressing these weighty allegations and submitting himself to scrutiny, Bello Matawalle chose to file a defamation suit against Sheikh Murtala Asada, a move widely perceived as an attempt to silence the Sheikh rather than transparently clear his name.
The Sheikh, however, is not alone.

INSIDER TESTIMONY BY MATAWALLE’S FORMER AIDE
More recently, a former aide to Matawalle, Musa Kamarawa, who identified himself as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA)during Matawalle’s governorship, made even graver allegations. He claimed that the minister “has police officers working for him who kill whomever he orders and spare whomever he chooses.”
Kamarawa further alleged that Matawalle colluded with security operatives to eliminate perceived enemies, protect allies, and facilitate dealings with notorious bandit leaders during his tenure as governor. In what amounts to one of the most damning aspects of his claims, Kamarawa corroborated Sheikh’s allegations and said the government of Zamfara State under Matawalle bought vehicles for Bello Turji, Halilu Sububu, and other bandits. He described it as part of the government’s “engagement strategy” at the time. He further claimed that he personally facilitated the procurement of another Hilux vehicle for the bandit leader, adding that criminal gangs operated with impunity during that period. Kamarawa went on to challenge Matawalle to deny the allegations under oath publicly.

These are not allegations coming from political opponents alone, but from someone who claims to have had access to the inner workings of government; someone with much to lose by speaking out. Numerous citizens of Zamfara State have echoed similar concerns over the years.
Surely, it defies logic to assume that clerics, former aides, community members, and civil society voices are all engaged in a coordinated attempt to tarnish one man’s image without cause. As the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire.

BELLO TURJI, A DESIGNATED TERRORIST, DEFENDS MATAWALLE
Perhaps most disturbing is that Bello Turji himself, a known bandit kingpin, reportedly issued a public statement defending Bello Matawalle after earlier releasing a video that appeared to establish a relationship between them.
This raises a fundamental question that Nigerians deserve an answer to: Why would a government official, let alone a defence minister, have any form of relationship with a terrorist?

INSECURITY AS A HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS
The ramifications of insecurity in Northern Nigeria cannot be overstated. It is not merely a security issue; it is a human rights catastrophe. It has led to the loss of countless lives, mass displacement, collapsed local economies, food insecurity, inflation, unemployment, and the erosion of trust in state institutions.
As a human rights activist, I find this situation unacceptable.

THE CASE FOR SUSPENSION PENDING INVESTIGATION
This article does not assert that Bello Matawalle is guilty of all the allegations raised against him. He remains entitled to the presumption of innocence pursuant to section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). However, the allegations against him are grave, numerous, persistent, and increasingly corroborated by insiders. They are too serious to be ignored and too dangerous to be left uninvestigated. They warrant an independent, transparent investigation.

In the interest of national security, public confidence, and institutional integrity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should immediately suspend Bello Matawalle, or Bello Matawalles should do the honourable thing and step aside, pending the outcome of an independent investigation into these weighty allegations.

Such a suspension would not amount to a conviction. On the contrary, it would be in Matawalle’s own interest, allowing him to clear his name without the burden of office, while reassuring Nigerians that this administration is genuinely committed to tackling insecurity.

Today, many Nigerians believe that the government is merely paying lip service to the fight against insecurity. And who can blame them? You cannot convincingly wage a war against terrorism while retaining a defence minister under serious allegations of collusion with terrorists.

NOT POLITICS, BUT NATIONAL SURVIVAL
This is not a political attack, nor a sponsored campaign. It is not personal. It is a national security and human rights issue that affects us all. Rather than deploying social media influencers and TikTok defenders, Bello Matawalle should subject himself to lawful scrutiny and public accountability.

If the President, who has sworn an oath to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, fails to act, then a direct criminal complaint will be filed, inviting the court to compel a proper investigation into these allegations.
Nigeria’s security crisis demands courage, transparency, and accountability. Anything less is a betrayal of the victims whose voices have been permanently silenced by banditry and terrorism.