The Defence Headquarters said investigations are actively underway into allegations of banditry sponsorship in the North-West region.
The DHQ’s Director of Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Abuja, affirming that relevant agencies tasked with such responsibilities were diligently investigating the matter.
The development comes on the heels of accusations and counter-accusations between the Minister of State for Defence and immediate past governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, and his successor, Dauda Lawal, over banditry sponsorship.
On Tuesday, Matawalle challenged Lawal to swear by the Holy Qur’an that he had no involvement in the sponsorship of bandits.
In response, Lawal vowed to release evidence against the minister, adding that he had also reported the matter to the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu.
When asked about the military’s role regarding the allegations involving the two influential Nigerians, the DHQ spokesman, Buba, said the matter was being looked into.
“When you talk about what’s going on about the sponsors, I can assure you that the relevant agencies that are saddled with that responsibility are doing a good job. And sooner than later, you will hear some announcements in that regard,” he said.
Buba said notwithstanding, the military was focused on winning the war against banditry, and was focused on destroying their fighting will.
He said, “Winning a war is destroying the enemy’s will to fight. When you destroy the enemy’s will to fight, the war is over, you have won the war. And that’s why we are focused on destroying the enemy’s will to fight.”
Speaking on the troops’ achievements between July and September 2024, Buba said a total of 1,937 terrorists, including 65 notable insurgent leaders.
Meanwhile, the Tinubu Youth Network, a support group in the ruling All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, demanded that Matawalle should step down as the Minister of State for Defence.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, TYN Secretary General, Yusuf Muhammad, said the allegations against Matawalle were too weighty to be glossed over, adding that they were not good for the image of the APC.
“We want a thorough investigation to clear Matawalle’s name and uphold our party’s integrity. Association with individuals responsible for heinous crimes undermines our party’s values and the President’s anti-corruption agenda,” Muhammad said.
He said loyalty to the President should not be a reason to shield Matawalle from investigation, arguing that “loyalty should not supersede accountability. We urge Matawalle to step down and subject himself to a thorough investigation.
“The Tinubu Youth Network is compelled to make a public appeal after several unsuccessful attempts to contact the leaders of our ruling party, the APC, regarding the allegations made by the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, against his predecessor and now the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
“A series of interviews granted on national television have gone viral. In these interviews, the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, raised grave concerns about the issues he inherited upon assuming office. These issues include the accusation of sponsoring bandits and misappropriation of state funds by his predecessor and the junior Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle.
“These are serious matters that strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of Zamfara State and should not be handled lightly.
“We consider it our responsibility as youth to seek a thorough investigation into these serious claims to uphold the integrity of our party and our esteemed leader, the President. Failing to address these issues could hurt our party in the future.
“We want to emphasise that the issues at stake here are not just political problems, they encompass matters of life and death, economic survival, and the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara State, the North-West, and Nigeria as a whole.
“This is why we are urging our esteemed leader, the President, to launch an investigation into the numerous allegations levelled against the state minister for defence, Bello Matawalle.”
Attempts to get Matawalle’s reaction on Thursday were unsuccessful, as several calls to his aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, were not answered. He had also yet to reply to a message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
