There is increased pressure on Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, as Nigeria’s security situation continues to deteriorate amid allegations linking him to conversations with notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
The allegations, which have circulated widely on social media and within civil society circles in the last few days, come at a time of renewed attacks across parts of the North-West and heightened public frustration over President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s handling of insecurity.
In a viral video that surfaced during the weekend, Turji did more than defend himself; he turned the spotlight on political leadership in the region, accusing two former northern governors of laying the groundwork for years of bloodshed.
Turji claimed that during Matawalle’s tenure as Zamfara governor, he participated in peace meetings convened by the state government. However, he vehemently denied allegations that he received N30 million or any material inducement for his involvement. Instead, he portrayed the engagements as genuine attempts to de-escalate violence.
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“We openly say that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states are responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji declared, accusing past administrations of arming vigilante groups, popularly known as Yan Banga, which he said disproportionately targeted Fulani communities and escalated cycles of reprisal violence.
The bandit leader went further, calling for the arrest and investigation of the former governors he named, framing his remarks as a personal defence against what he described as selective blame.
Yet, despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies have consistently identified Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders in the region. The military has previously declared him wanted for terror-related activities.
While Matawalle has denied any wrongdoing, critics argue that the controversy further weakens public confidence in the country’s security leadership.
In recent times, calls for Matawalle’s resignation or outright removal have grown louder, echoing across social media, civil society spaces and political circles.
The pressure intensified following the resignation of the substantive defence minister, Abubakar Badaru, and the subsequent appointment of Christopher Musa, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff.
Matawalle was appointed minister at the assumption of office of President Tinubu in 2023, in a move widely interpreted as both a political reward and an attempt to leverage his experience governing one of Nigeria’s most violence-hit states. Zamfara has for years been a hotspot for banditry, mass abductions and rural killings.
However, two years down the line, the general opinion is that he has performed poorly and should be removed amid the country’s worsening insecurity.
“He had no business being there from the beginning. It’s an indictment of the Tinubu administration that he and some others like him are in government despite the failure and these fresh allegations,” Dipo Olajide, a security analyst, told BusinessDay.
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He further noted that he does not believe the President was serious about tackling the spate of insecurity, arguing that there was no justification for Matawalle’s continued stay as minister.
Similarly, analysts and civil society members argue that if leadership changes were possible at the top, similar scrutiny should apply to all senior officials overseeing the country’s security architecture. They contend that the allegations against Matawalle, combined with worsening insecurity, make his continued stay in office increasingly difficult to justify.
Some weeks ago, the United States redesignated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the administration of US President Donald Trump, a move that underscored how far the country’s security challenges have travelled beyond its borders.
Although President Tinubu has taken some measures to check the spate of insecurity and abductions in recent weeks—especially the withdrawal of police officers protecting prominent Nigerians—violent attacks across the country have continued.
From mass abductions of schoolchildren to deadly assaults on religious centres, incidents have persisted, deepening public fear and international concern.
Kofi Okono, a public affairs analyst, said President Tinubu should rather work with retired military officers as minister of Defense, instead of Matawalle, whom he described as lacking the requisite experience. He also blamed a lack of sincerity for the continued security lapses in the country.
“He had no business being there from the beginning. It’s an indictment of the Tinubu administration that he and some others like him are in government,” Okono told BusinessDay.
Meanwhile, a former Commissioner of Information in Zamfara State, Ibrahim Dosara, has described the allegations against the Minister of State for Defence as politically motivated.
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He advised the President to ignore the allegations, stressing that past accusations against the minister had turned out to be false.
Public policy expert Francis Ogwu said the ball is in President Tinubu’s court to investigate the minister in order to give credibility to his administration and its fight against insecurity.
Ogwu also pointed out that it was wrong to accuse the minister of wrongdoing without a proper assessment or investigation of Turji’s comments.
Several groups and prominent individuals have also spoken in support and against the Minister amid the allegations, with many saying that President Tinubu should immediately be decisive in his actions against individuals that would sabotage his efforts to sanitise and tackle the spate of insecurity situation in the country.
