By Abubakar Yunusa
A Nigerian advocacy group, the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, has defended Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle against accusations by a bandit leader.
In a video released on social media, a leader of a northern Nigerian outlaw group, Turji, blamed Matawalle for not effectively handling insecurity during his term as Governor of Zamfara State.
Turji attributed the rise in banditry to policies implemented by Matawalle’s administration.
The group’s Executive Director, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi Sadi, dismissed Turji’s claims in a statement sent to Peoples Daily on Tuesday, in Abuja.
“No right-thinking person should pay attention to this tissue of lies poorly concocted by a mentally deranged terrorist,” Sadi said.
He called Turji’s allegations “mischievous, baseless, diversionary, a hallucination, and a figment of the fertile imagination of a murderer.”
Sadi emphasized that Matawalle is committed to fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda for national security and defeating terrorism.
Sadi also denied allegations that recovered weapons from bandits were kept at the Zamfara State Government House.
“The Zamfara Government House has no armory or facility for storing arms and ammunition,” he clarified.
“All recovered or surrendered weapons were handed over to security agencies with a proper inventory taken.”
Sadi praised Matawalle’s leadership in tackling banditry while governor.
“His proactive leadership and integrity” were cited as reasons for President Tinubu appointing him Minister of State for Defence, Sadi said.
“The current synergy among security agencies fighting terror is a testament to Matawalle’s leadership skills and political astuteness,” Sadi continued.
He argued that the bandit attacks on the minister are attempts to distract him from his crucial national assignment. “Stones are only thrown at ripe fruits,” Sadi said metaphorically.
The group urged the public to ignore Turji’s claims and expressed confidence in the minister’s ability to handle the situation. They commended security agencies for their work and President Tinubu for his trust in Matawalle.
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