•Matawalle and bandits
The APC Akida Forum, a faction within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), staged a protest at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja today, calling for an investigation and possible suspension of Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, over alleged links to banditry.
The group, which is based in Kaduna State, expressed deep concerns about the security and welfare of millions of Nigerians, particularly the residents of Zamfara State, reports Vanguard.
The forum urged the DSS to conduct an independent probe into serious allegations made by the current Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal. Governor Lawal has accused his predecessor, Matawalle, of sponsoring bandits and misappropriating state funds.
Lawal’s allegations, widely reported in media interviews, focus on Matawalle’s purported ties to dangerous individuals and incidents that have reportedly endangered lives and eroded public trust in governance.
The protesters emphasised that the issue goes beyond politics, calling it a life-and-death matter that is deeply tied to human rights and national security. They expressed concerns that failing to address the allegations could damage the reputation of the APC, the president, and the security agencies.
Speaking during the demonstration, the leader of the group, Mallam Musa Mahmud, said, “We want the DSS to launch an independent investigation into the numerous allegations against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
“We are not asking for the DSS to castigate the minister, but to protect millions of Nigerians and safeguard the integrity of the president and security agencies, particularly the intelligence community. The DSS is in the best position to advise the President to relieve Bello Matawalle of his duties so that he can face an investigative panel.”
Mahmud further stated, “The Minister must clarify his connections with dangerous individuals like Bello Tagoji, Musa Kamarawa, and Ardon Zuru.”
The APC Akida Forum (AAF) maintained that where there is smoke, there is fire.
“To uphold transparency and fairness, we strongly urge Bello Matawalle to step down from his position and subject himself to a thorough investigation. This is essential to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of both his personal reputation and the APC, Africa’s largest and most influential political party.”
