Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence, has said
that recent attacks against him were being pushed by people whose political
ambitions for 2027 are threatened by the government’s security reforms.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Ibrahim Dosara, he
said he is facing coordinated, malicious and politically sponsored attacks
aimed at damaging his reputation and downplaying his work in strengthening
Nigeria’s security system.
According to him, “Public service demands courage,
consistency, and a commitment to truth.”
He said he has watched “false allegations and malicious
narratives”*spread by political rivals who want to score cheap points.
Matawalle accused his critics of trying to use sensitive
security issues to create propaganda.
He said those behind the attacks are politicians seeking
relevance and trying to distract him from his job.
He said, “Attempts to drag my name into unrelated events are
nothing but desperate political propaganda.”
He added that the allegations are baseless, the agenda is
political, and the truth remains clear despite the smear campaigns.
Matawalle explained that banditry was already a deep-rooted
crisis long before he became governor of Zamfara.
According to him, “Banditry was not a problem that was
invented under my watch… it had grown over decades.”
He said his administration introduced structured security
measures, set up high-level committees, improved intelligence, and prosecuted
criminals.
He also said compromised traditional rulers were removed,
and disarmament programmes were implemented with military support.
The minister noted that thousands of abducted victims were
rescued during his time as governor, and 11 Chinese nationals involved in
illegal mining were deported. Anyone trying to distort this record, he said, is
playing politics with the pain of innocent citizens.
Matawalle also said Zamfara went more than a year without
major security incidents because of these measures. He added that he faced
harassment while working on the rescue of kidnapped schoolgirls in Kebbi,
saying, “I received harassment and intimidation… but I refused to bow to
pressure. Humanity comes first.”
He insisted that those attacking him are afraid of the
ongoing defence reforms and are motivated by the 2027 political race.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the president, saying, “My
loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains total… No amount of propaganda
will influence his decisions.”
He praised Nigeria’s security agencies for their
professionalism in rescue operations.
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