The Zamfara State chapter of the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) and the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) have condemned Kachallah Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, and criticized attempts to undermine the Minister of State for Defence, Muhammad Bello Matawalle.
A viral video featured Turji accusing Matawalle of connections with bandits, which NAN and NSCF have denounced as baseless and allegedly fueled by Matawalle’s political opponents. Samaila Kwali, NAN’s state chairman, labeled it unacceptable for the government to tolerate such criminality and called for an end to any politically motivated actions that endanger citizens.
Kwali asserted that Turji’s claims were part of a scheme by desperate politicians aiming to discredit Matawalle. He highlighted that during Matawalle’s tenure as governor, bandits never infiltrated any of the 14 local government headquarters, a stark contrast to recent invasions of multiple local government areas and the state capital.
NSCF spokesperson Comrade Danjuma Paul criticized the attempts to manipulate public perception through fabricated claims by criminal figures like Turji. He defended Matawalle and noted the former governor’s role, alongside other former governors, in challenging the unpopular Naira redesign policy, which had alleviated economic hardship.
The groups lamented the targeted attacks against these former governors, with Matawalle being the last standing after similar efforts against El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello. They urged the government to focus on securing citizens and tackling banditry, emphasizing that collective action and accountability are crucial to combating crime.
The northern leaders called on citizens, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to demand decisive measures from the government to ensure no criminal undermines state authority.
Discussion about this post