In a startling revelation, Mohammed Bello Turji Kachalla, a notorious terrorist operating in Nigeria’s Northwest region, has reiterated his accusation that the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, supports terrorism. Turji, known for his operations in states like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger, made these claims in a recent video shared by security expert Zagazola Makama on X.
Turji alleged that Matawalle, the immediate former governor of Zamfara State, has deep ties to bandits, marking his tenure with heavy criticism due to pervasive insecurity. This fresh accusation follows previous denials by Matawalle’s camp after Turji initially linked him to terrorist activities.
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“What I said in the video is that Dan Maigari and Baleri are siblings,” Turji stated, implicating Bashari in armed banditry across Zamfara and Sokoto states. He challenged Matawalle’s supporters to investigate his claims rather than dismissing them as propaganda, questioning Matawalle’s role in the kidnapping and release of female students in Marado.
Turji, operating between Zamfara and Sokoto states, asserted, “Since you said Bashari is not a bandit and said Matawalle has no hand in the banditry activities, I am asking you from whom did they rescue the girls?” He insisted his allegations were accurate and based on truth, urging sensible individuals to acknowledge the reality of the situation.
Recalling an earlier accusation in July, Turji had alleged that Matawalle was complicit in backing terrorism in Nigeria. He stated, “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.”
He further added, “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 Mattawallen Maradun (State Minister of Defence), is well-known to everyone in the region. This government has been complicit in backing terrorism.”
Reacting to these serious allegations, Matawalle’s camp swiftly denied them, describing them as baseless and malicious. In a rejoinder signed by Deyemi Saka, Lead Partner at Lambert and Curtis, Matawalle’s camp stated, “Our attention has been drawn to a video shared on the X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook page of your media organisation in which baseless, malicious, unfounded, mischievous, and deliberately concocted lies were told against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle.”
The statement emphasized Matawalle’s efforts against banditry during his tenure as governor, highlighting his strong stance against negotiating with bandits after the closure of the amnesty window for them to lay down their arms.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Murtala Asada, a popular Islamic scholar based in Sokoto, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s government to investigate Matawalle to prove its sincerity in fighting insecurity. Asada, known for his relentless preaching against banditry and bad governance, argued that the Federal Government should take immediate action if serious about ending terrorism.
During his Sunday preaching in Sokoto, Asada said, “Is Bello Mattawalle supposed to continue holding the position as the Minister of State for Defence up to this moment? Because all evidence has been proven against him, or has it not?”
He continued, “This simply shows that the Federal Government is only wasting its time negotiating with these bandits when those sponsoring the bandits are within the cities. If you negotiate with ten bandits in the bushes, those within the cities will facilitate and kidnap hundreds more victims and send them back to the bushes. The bigwig sponsors are living in the cities.”
Asada called for divine intervention through prayers, asserting that it was due to these prayers that the truth about the involvement of high-profile individuals in banditry was coming to light. His statements underscore the urgent need for thorough investigations and decisive actions to combat the rampant insecurity in Nigeria’s Northwest region.
Link to the Video:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/XBX5xABDJVEd7N3c/?mibextid=oFDknk
