Pure Political Theatre!” – Ex-Commissioner Slams Alleged Bandit Ties Linked To Matawalle

A former Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, has strongly refuted allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to banditry amid rising insecurity in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement issued on Sunday, Dosara described the claims as entirely politically driven, questioning why such accusations are resurfacing at a time when the government is intensifying efforts to combat insecurity nationwide.

He noted that similar allegations have been repeatedly investigated over the years without any indictment or official evidence implicating Matawalle.

According to Dosara, those pushing the claims—including disgruntled former aides and political adversaries—have failed to channel their accusations through lawful avenues such as security agencies, anti-graft bodies, or the courts.

He stated:
“The allegations thrown at Dr. Matawalle have been a recurring feature of Zamfara’s political drama since 2019. They have been probed and reviewed multiple times without a single indictment, charge, or recommendation pointing to wrongdoing.

“If anyone—be it a former aide seeking relevance or a political opponent fueled by tension—possessed credible evidence, the path is clear: report to the police, intelligence services, the EFCC, ICPC, or a competent court.

“Yet, none have done so. Instead, the accusations reappear only as political weapons whenever the need arises. In a constitutional democracy, due process—not speculation—must remain the standard of judgment.”

He further argued that narratives portraying Matawalle’s administration as complicit in insecurity are misleading, stressing that his government actually strengthened security presence and enhanced intelligence coordination.

Dosara added that the peace dialogue with armed groups was at that time backed by federal authorities and security experts across the northern region, but was discontinued once intelligence reports showed it was no longer effective.

He concluded:
“These so-called ‘dialogues,’ now twisted for political gains, were then a nationally endorsed approach adopted by several states in the North-West and North-Central.”