A notorious terrorist, Mohammed Bello Turji Kachalla, commonly 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 shared by security expert Zagazola Makama on X, Turji alleged that Matawalle, the immediate former governor of Zamfara State, has ties to bandits.

Matawalle’s previous tenure 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.

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 (an alleged bandit) of continuous operations between Zamfara and Sokoto states without any evidence to suggest he had surrendered to authorities.

He insisted his allegations are accurate and based on truth.

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“Every sensible person is aware of the situation and knows what I’m talking about,” he said.

Recall that in July, Turji had accused Matawalle of complicity in backing terrorism in Nigeria.

The notorious bandit alleged that the issue of insecurity plaguing the country had the full backing of Matawalle.

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.”

Reacting to allegations made previously, the minister’s camp swiftly denied the allegations and described them as falsehood.

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 deliberately concocted lies were told against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, 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 he is doing.”

“Anyone with basic knowledge of the psychoanalysis of a terrorist and deranged mind like Turji will know that he is engaging in ‘victim mentality,’” the statement added.

Meanwhile, a popular Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Murtala Asada, known for his relentless preaching against banditry and bad governance, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s government to investigate the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawalle, to prove its sincerity in the fight against insecurity.

The cleric said nothing should stop the Federal Government from investigating the Minister and others accused of complicity in backing terrorism in Nigeria’s North West if they are indeed serious about fighting banditry.

Asada’s challenge comes days after Kachallah Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader operating in the Nigerian North West regions of Zamfara and Sokoto, released a video accusing the Defence Minister of fully backing terrorism plaguing the country’s North West region.

The Minister denied the allegation through his media consultant, Deyemi Saka.

The bandit kingpin further referenced previous allegations made by Sheikh Murtala Asada that there were bandits and their sponsors operating within the city.

During his Sunday preaching in Sokoto, Sheikh Murtala Asada said that if the Federal Government of Nigeria were sincere about ending terrorism, they would have immediately reacted to this revelation.

He said: “Is Bello Mattawalle supposed to continue holding the position as the Minister of State for Defence up to this moment? Because all evidence has been proven against him, or has it not?

“Has it not been proven that there are bandits in the cities of Sokoto? Should they not be arrested and investigated?”

The scholar continued, “Please tell me, are there indiscriminate killings of people or not? This simply shows that the Federal Government is only wasting its time negotiating with these bandits when those sponsoring the bandits are within the cities.

“If you negotiate with ten bandits in the bushes, those within the cities will facilitate and kidnap hundreds more victims and send them back to the bushes. The bigwig sponsors are living in the cities.”

“Oh, Muslim Ummah, we must all dedicate ourselves to seeking divine intervention through prayers. It is due to these prayers that God is now exposing them. Dan Ubayyu, the leader of the hypocrites of God, you know that Bello Turji has absolute knowledge of the dirty deals going on between politicians and bandits because he was one of those bandit leaders at the forefront during the negotiations. God forced him to speak up. This is a result of the prayers of Nigerians, and he came out to confirm that there are bandits in our cities. He listed some of those in the cities of Sokoto, and anyone following the issue of insecurity knows that they are still in the cities of Sokoto. People like Kabiru Maniya, Bashir Maniya, and Buhari are currently in the cities, living lavishly in their houses.”