Fresh Audio Rekindles Explosive Bandit Sponsorship Allegations Against Defence Minister Matawalle

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Serious allegations linking Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to alleged sponsorship of bandits have resurfaced, sparking renewed public outrage and calls for an independent investigation.

The controversy was reignited on Tuesday after Sheikh Murtala Asada, a prominent cleric and whistleblower, released an audio recording he claims exposes attempts to silence a key witness in an ongoing banditry-related court case involving Matawalle’s tenure as Zamfara State governor.

According to Asada and Musa Kamarawa, a former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Matawalle, the minister allegedly provided vehicles, a house, cash sums reportedly totaling ₦42 million, food supplies, grains, and cattle to notorious bandits, including Bello Turji, between 2019 and 2023.

The alleged support was reportedly presented as part of a “peace process” aimed at reducing violence in Zamfara State.

In the newly released audio, Dr. Sulaiman Shinkafi, said to be an aide to Matawalle, is allegedly heard pleading with Kamarawa to withdraw from serving as a court witness, recant his earlier statements, and stop further public disclosures. Kamarawa, who recorded the call, claimed he was offered inducements, including the withdrawal of charges against him and fulfillment of promises allegedly made by Matawalle, in exchange for his silence.

Asada said the recording has been forwarded to the Presidency and questioned why, if the allegations are false, efforts were allegedly being made to prevent witnesses from testifying in court.

He insisted that he has raised concerns about Matawalle’s alleged links to bandits since the minister’s first year in office, nearly five years ago.

The cleric also referenced a widely circulated video in which Matawalle was seen discussing the provision of food items to bandits during peace negotiations, a claim Asada described as misleading and unacceptable.

He maintained that peace talks cannot justify alleged purchases of vehicles and houses for known criminal elements.

Matawalle has repeatedly denied all accusations, insisting that any engagement with armed groups during his governorship was conducted with the knowledge and backing of security agencies and was strictly for negotiations aimed at saving lives. He described the claims as politically motivated fabrications.

Bandit leader Bello Turji has also acknowledged meeting with Matawalle during the period but denied receiving vehicles or cash, stating that no such financial or material support was given.

Despite the denials, critics are demanding Matawalle’s immediate suspension and a full, independent investigation, arguing that the gravity of the allegations and the emergence of the audio recording warranted urgent action.

Supporters of the minister, however, have pointed to Kamarawa’s past conviction during Matawalle’s administration as evidence that the claims may be retaliatory or unreliable.

As of the time of filing this report, no independent probe has verified the allegations, and no official response has been issued by the Presidency.

Meanwhile, Zamfara State continued to battle persistent banditry, keeping the issue firmly in the national spotlight as Nigerians await clarity and accountability.