A notorious terrorist Mohammed Bello Turji Kachalla, popularly known as Turji, has reiterated his accusation that the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, supports terrorism in Nigeria’s Northwest region.
In a recent video, Turji alleged that Matawalle, the immediate former governor of Zamfara State, has ties to bandits.
In August 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of Matawalle, the former Zamfara state governor, as the Minister of State for Defence.
Matawalle’s previous role as governor was marked by heavy criticism due to insecurity issues that plagued Zamfara state under his administration.
The fresh accusation followed a previous denial by Matawalle’s camp after Turji initially linked him to terrorist activities in the region.
Turji has been operating in northern Nigerian states including Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger.
“What I said in the video is that Dan Maigari and Baleri are siblings” Turji stated, alleging Bashari’s involvement in armed banditry in Zamfara and Sokoto states.
Turji challenged Matawalle’s supporters to investigate his claims rather than dismissing them as propaganda.
“If you don’t have knowledge about the situation, go and investigate and stop misleading the public,” he said.
He questioned the role of Matawalle and others in the kidnapping and subsequent release of female students in Marado.
He asked, “Since you said Bashari is not a bandit and said Matawalle has no hand in the banditry activities, I am asking you from whom did they rescue the girls?”
Turji accused Bashari of continuous operations between Zamfara and Sokoto states without any evidence to suggest he had surrendered to authorities.
In response to allegations made previously, the minister’s camp refuted Turji’s claims, describing them as baseless.
Despite this, Turji in his new video insisted his allegations are accurate and based on truth.
“Every sensible person is aware of the situation and knows what I’m talking about,” he said.
Meanwhile, earlier in July, SaharaReporters reported that Turji had accused Matawalle of complicity in backing terrorism in Nigeria.
Turji, in the new video alleged that the issue of insecurity plaguing the country had the full backing of Matawalle.
Speaking in Hausa, he said, “My name is Muhammed Bello Turji, and I am releasing this video to reach all Nigerians, from the leaders to the poor. This is the message I want to convey to everyone.
“The issue of insecurity plaguing our country has the full backing of the immediate past Government of Zamfara State. I have evidence to support this claim. The past government, under His Excellency Bello Mattawallen Maradun (State Minister of Defence) is well-known to everyone in the region.
“This government has been complicit in backing terrorism. There are individuals from Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Issah who cannot deny this video.
“Many Nigerians, for example, those in Bauchi or Kaduna, may not be aware of the problems in Zamfara. However, I want to assure the federal government that if they are unaware, I will provide names, details, and evidence. I urge them to investigate the past actions of these individuals and their discussions with them. As a citizen of this zone (North West), I swear before God that I speak the truth.”
Matawalle swiftly denied the allegations and described them as falsehood.
However, Matawalle, through his media consultants, referred to the allegations as unfounded lies.
A rejoinder signed by Deyemi Saka, Lead Partner at Lambert and Curtis, said in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a video shared on the X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook page of your media organisation in which baseless, malicious, unfounded, mischievous and deliberate concocted lies were told against the Honourable Minister of State for Defense, H.E Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle.
“We are not unmindful of the sustained attacks on the person, integrity, and patriotic sense of duty of our client. What we find disheartening and despicable is the brazen disregard for public safety and national security.
“While the video speaks to its discredibility, it is pertinent to address the outlandish allegations made by Bello Turji, a wanted kingpin of banditry.
“It is noteworthy that the efforts of the honourable minister of state, while as Governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023, saw banditry and all other sundry of criminality tackled head on.
“His demonstration of strength of Character by insisting he was not going to negotiate with Bandits after the closure of the amnesty window for them to lay down their arms, and strong insistence of Bello Turji doing such is enough motivation for the hatchet man job is he doing.”
According to the Matawalle’s media consultants, “all arms seized, recovered, and received from bandits were submitted at Government House Gusau, and there is a record for it”.
It said, “The Government House does not have armoury, and it is also on record that the cache of arms was handed over to relevant security agencies of government.
“Anyone with basic knowledge of psychoanalysis of a terrorist and deranged mind like Turji will know that he is engaging in “victim mentality.’”
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