Alleged Support of Bandits: Time to Investigate Bello Matawalle, by Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia

On the 10th of June 2020 at about 5 pm, armed bandits stormed Kadisau village of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina state. The bandits who came on dozens of motorcycles opened fire on the villagers killing anyone who was unable to escape alive. 57 people including men, women and children were killed in the operation that lasted four hours with no intervention from Federal security forces who were said to be on the highway 5 kilometres away.

The criminals later moved to nearby villages where they killed an additional 30 people.

The bandits were led by Ado Aleru, a well known bandits commander in Zamfara state. Katsina state police command later declared Ado Aleru wanted and put a price of five million Naira on his head.

Two years after, precisely on Saturday 16th July 2022, Nigerians were shocked to hear that the man responsible for the murder of innocent Nigerian women and children was turbaned with a traditional title in Zamfara state.

The turbaning of Aleru was a gathering of some of the most deadly criminals responsible for acts of terror in the Northwestern and North central geopolitical zones of Nigeria. On ground to witness the ceremony were officials of Zamfara state Government including the state Commissioner of internal security. In other words, the turbaning was done with the knowledge and approval of the State Government under Governor Bello Matawalle. Surprisingly, some very senior police officers graced the occasion without arresting the person they declared wanted two years earlier.

Soon after the ceremony, Katsina state government under Masari indicated its disapproval to the chieftaincy title conferred on the criminal and maintained that it is still looking for Ado Aleru.

Nothing changed. The centre was weak and life continued. However, the people of Zamfara did the needful by voting Matawalle out of power in the last year’s election.

If the only atrocity the former Governor of Zamfara state committed was facilitating the conferment of a traditional title to such a deadly criminal, he deserves retirement from Nigerian politics and prosecution after office. Alas! He was rewarded with a ministerial position in the ministry that is supposed to rid Nigeria of terrorists like Ado Aleru. Only in Nigeria. Allah Ya sauwake.

Of recent, additional allegations have been made on how as the then Governor of Zamfara state hobnobbed with bandits and supported them with the lean resources of Zamfara people. I am referring to a viral video of a Sokoto-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Murtala Bello Asada. Asada, who claimed that he has incontrovertible evidences on all his claims against the former Governor, challenged Matawalle to take him to court.

Among the allegations Sheikh Asada made against Matawalle is the Minister’s support of one Haruna Dole. According to Asada, Haruna, a famous bandit kingpin with more than 500 rifles under him was arrested and taken to Police Headquarters Abuja. According to Sheikh Asada, Bello Matawalle, then the Governor of Zamfara state, made a phone call and asked for Dole’s release. The criminal was released to one Bashar who signed and received the bandit on behalf of Governor Matawalle. He said the document carrying the signature and picture of Bashar would still available at the Force Headquarters.

According to Sheikh Murtala Asada, Matawalle is also a friend of Turji. Asada mentioned a visit Turji paid to Zamfara State Government House when Matawalle was the Governor. During the lunch Turji had with the Governor, it was Matawalle himself who personally served the criminal. He later gave him an undisclosed amount of cash and allowed him to go back to the bush and continue with his criminal activities.

Another bandit kingpin who was friends with Matawalle was Chedi. According to Asada, Matawalle bought a house for Chedi in Gidan Dutse quarters of Gusau. Uncomfortable with it, residents of Gusau protested and made a mob attack on Chedi and ended his life. Matawalle then ordered the arrest of several people and on the day of their arraignment, overwhelming crowds of Gusau people stormed the court and Matawalle had no choice but to order the release of the people. It ended there.

In addition to all these, Sheikh Asada listed some criminals who allegedly received hilux operational vehicles from Matawalle when he was the Governor. They include Turji, Aleru and Sububu.

The allegations are weighty and sum up to one thing. That the current Minister of state of Defence deployed to the North West by President Tinubu to fight banditry is an alleged friend of bandits who support them financially.

The position of anybody interested in the protection of lives of property of Nigerians would be clear. Mr. President should investigate these allegations and if found true prosecute the former Governor. Yes, allegations are allegations until they are investigated and found to be true. But if Government refuses to carry out a transparent investigation, what would prevent Nigerians from believing that they are true?

But even as investigations are carried out, Mr. Matawalle has no business remaining in the Ministry of Defence. May be another ministry.

If the executive is not ready to do the needful, where is our National Assembly? Do they believe that these allegations against a Government official in charge of fighting security are not serious? Go figure!

Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia