The recent abduction of Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa district, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, and his son by bandits along Sokoto to Sabon Birni Local Government Area, with a staggering N1 billion ransom demand, has sparked widespread concern about the escalating insecurity in the region.
This incident, coupled with allegations of kidnapping by notorious kingpin Bello Turji, linking Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, to terror kingpin Bashari in Maradun, Zamfara State, has compelled the Chairman of National Security & Stability Forum( NS&SF), a civil society organization, to demand an immediate investigation into the Minister’s alleged terror ties.
“The brazen abduction of traditional leaders and the alleged involvement of high-ranking officials with terror elements have exposed the vulnerabilities in our national security,” said Adamu Isa Mohammed, Chairman of the National Security & Stability Forum.
“We cannot afford to have our security compromised by those in positions of power” he added.
The Forum expressed concern that the frequency of recent attacks in the Zamfara-Sokoto axis and the Minister’s alleged links to Bashari pose a significant threat to national security, demanding a thorough probe into the matter.
“We urge security agencies to take immediate action and investigate these allegations,” Mohammed added. “The Minister’s position is sensitive, and any ties to terror elements compromise our national security.”
The Forum emphasized that the investigation is crucial to ensuring the integrity of the country’s security apparatus and preventing further kidnappings and terrorist activities.
“We will not stand idly by while our national security is jeopardized,” Mohammed said. “We demand transparency and accountability from our leaders.”
The National Security & Stability Forum vowed to continue pressing for answers until the Minister’s alleged ties to terror kingpins are thoroughly investigated and resolved.
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