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For Allegedly linked with terrorism in the country, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matewalle has been called to resign his appointment.
It was gathered that Matawalle is alleged to have purchase vehicles for bandit leaders, including a notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, and others while serving as Zamfara State Governor.
Following the development, Dauda Lawal, the current state Governor has urged the minister to resign from the office
Lawal who spoke on TVC, a national television station said, “If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me because, from all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry.”
He was also alleged to have kept terrorists at the government house, and ransom was paid to terrorists through the government.
“In May 2023, there was this allegation of misappropriation of N70bn. We realised that the N70bn was a child’s play compared to what we have. This information is before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and I wonder how this guy was cleared by the security operatives to become a minister.
“We are still waiting to hear from the EFCC; the case has been on for a year now. This is people’s money; we need the money in Zamfara to address the challenges we are facing.”
Recounting previous allegation, Matewalle in January 2022, while serving as state governor under the All Progressives Congress, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party had drummed support for his resignation following his alleged involvement in sponsoring banditry.
The APC however countered the allegation, insisting it was because he defected from the PDP to the party at the time.
An Islamic cleric, Bello Asada, also indicted him of sponsoring bandits.
In a recent video sighted online, Asada alleged that Matawalle procured vehicles for Turji and other bandits.
He said, “You didn’t love especially because of God. Murtala Bello said your godfather has bought vehicles for terrorists, among them is this Halilu Subububu. The defence (state) minister has bought a brand new car and given it to him (is he not the one who’s called ‘Wankin Dan Kanoma’). There is also Ada Aleru.
“I know that he has purchased about 34 vehicles and distributed them to leaders of terrorists. He (Halilu) who I was accused of purchasing a car; was the Zamfara State governor who gave him a brand new 2019 model Hilux, not a second-hand car. People like Ado Aleru were given. I was with the police; Bello Turji was given.
“Decent people like the police, military, and civil defence who are looking for Hilux were not given, only for them to use our money to buy brand new Hiluxes for terrorists.”
Asada further questioned why Turji, being a notorious criminal, had not been captured.
For nearly nine years, Turji has terrorised Zamfara State by killing, kidnapping, and extorting residents.
