Ex-aide accuses Tinubu’s defence minister Matawalle of supporting bandits with vehicles and cash

A former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) in the Zamfara State Government, Musa Muhammad Kamara, has dropped a major political bombshell, publicly accusing Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, of actively supporting notorious terror kingpins with vehicles and cash while in office.

Kamara, speaking in Hausa in a video obtained by Sahara Reporters, detailed how vehicles and cash were allegedly distributed to wanted terror commanders including Kachalla Halilu, Bello Turji, and Ado Aleru during Matawalle’s tenure as governor.

Kamara said the allegations currently being debated in the media are “not false,” insisting that he personally handled some of the transactions.

He said, “Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Ta’ala Wabarakatuh. My name is Musa Muhammad Kamara, former SSA under the former Zamfara State Government of Dr. Bello Mutawalle of Maradun.

“This is the matter: there is a lot of talk, and even after the government changed, there was no place where it was said that I was dismissed or suspended until we left office. Now, I am seeing on the media that a petition is circulating against Malam Murtala Bello Assada, accusing him of insulting and defaming the Minister of Defence.”

“There are some clips I watched in which Malam Murtala Bello Assada was speaking. So, we see that there are accusations and counter-accusations. This thing is not false,” he said.

‘Vehicles Were Bought And Given To Bandit Leaders’

According to Kamara, vehicles were purchased under the instructions of the former governor and delivered to the notorious warlords.

There is a clip I saw where the Mallam said that vehicles were bought. Wallahi, Summan Tallahi Billahi, vehicles were bought and distributed. Vehicles were given to Kachalla Halilu, Turji, Ado Aleru; those motorcycles were truly bought and given out.

“There is another clip I saw again recently that they were “settled”, given money. Truly. I, Musa Kamara, was among those who were given that settlement.”

He further alleged that large sums of money were disbursed to bandit groups across all 14 local government areas of Zamfara State.

“There is another clip I saw again recently that they were “settled”, given money. Truly. I, Musa Kamara, was among those who were given that settlement.”

He further alleged that large sums of money were disbursed to bandit groups across all 14 local government areas of Zamfara State.

“This bank settlement record shows all 14 local governments of Zamfara State and their names. There is none of them that did not receive ₦3 million. When the money was added, it totalled ₦42 million, and it entered my account as a settlement of ₦28,020. Each local government I know received its amount, and the money was also given to the youths.”

In one of the most serious accusations, Kamara alleged that Minister Matawalle shielded a notorious terror leader, Haru Dole, who was said to possess “over 500 AK-47 rifles,” after his arrest.

Kamara claimed Haru Dole was arrested by security operatives at Gusau Hospital and taken to Abuja. However, Matawalle allegedly intervened.

“Matawalle sent his aide, Dr. Bashir Maru, to the hospital to take the man and hide him, and that was done,” he alleged.

The former SSA also claimed he was personally involved in the purchase and renovation of a house allegedly gifted to terror kingpin Bello Turji.

He said: “Malam Murtala also spoke about the house that was bought for Turji. Billahi, Allazi La Ilaha Illa Hu; a house was bought. I was the one who bought the house… The house was bought, completed, and handed over.”

Kamara also recounted handling ₦88 million meant for purchasing cows for Sallah distribution to residents. He claimed the money was given to Kachalla Halilu and Kachalla Turji to buy the cattle, many of which were later diverted or stolen.

Kamara concluded his stunning revelations by appealing to Malam Murtala Bello Assada, the initial whistleblower who is reportedly facing threats and a petition for defamation, to allow him to serve as a primary witness.

He said, “That is why I want to confirm that the allegations being made are true. I beg Malam Murtala Assada, for Allah’s sake, to support me as a primary witness because I will go to court and I will speak the truth; what I know, even what Malam Murtala does not know. I will come with my evidence and prove to the court what actually happened.

“I swear by Allah’s law, there are things that people do not know, and I will reveal them in court. The Mallam himself does not know some of them. I will say them because this has now reached the stage where justice must be done for the people.”

Matawalle was appointed Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023. He served as the governor of Zamfara state between 2019 to 2023.

Kamara is not the first person to accuse the ex-governor of sponsoring banditry. In 2024, the incumbent governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, in a TV programme, the governor accused the minister of sponsoring bandits and asked him to resign and address the allegations, including money laundering, during his tenure as governor.

“If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me.”

However, Matawalle denied the allegation saying he swore with the Holy Qur’an when he was governor between 2019 and 2023, to deny the allegation, but Lawal and other politicians in the state refused to swear to back their claims.

“It was not only me that dialogued with bandits. Remember, all the governors dialogued; the then governors of Niger State, Habu Sani Bello, and the governors of Sokoto and Katsina states did the same. Why only me? Because it is Zamfara?

“Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas. Our people are just different,” he said in an interview with Channels TV.