Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has denied allegations that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is sponsoring his group’s violent activities in Zamfara State. Turji, in a video statement, claimed that his operations are solely sanctioned by divine will and not backed by any political figure.
This declaration comes amidst ongoing tensions between Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara State, and his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal. Both politicians have been engaged in a war of words, accusing each other of links to the state’s banditry crisis. Recently, Matawalle challenged Lawal to swear on the Quran that he had no connections to the bandits destabilizing the region.
In response, Turji categorically dismissed claims that his group has received political support from any past or current officials. “Governor Dauda Lawal accusing Bello Matawalle of being a terrorist sponsor won’t solve anything. When Matawalle was governor, who was sponsoring us? Likewise, when Abdulaziz Yari was governor, who was sponsoring us? No one is supporting us except God,” Turji said in his video message.
Observers say that with this statement, Matawalle may be exonerated from the ongoing allegations that have marred his political standing. However, the public discourse over the root causes of Zamfara’s banditry crisis continues to evolve as both politicians remain locked in blame games.
The issue has drawn national attention as security challenges persist in Zamfara, a state that has been plagued by years of violence and insecurity fueled by banditry and kidnapping rings.
