Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence, has said that recent attacks against him were being pushed by people whose political ambitions for 2027 are threatened by the government’s security reforms.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Ibrahim Dosara, he said he is facing coordinated, malicious and politically sponsored attacks aimed at damaging his reputation and downplaying his work in strengthening Nigeria’s security system.
According to him, “Public service demands courage, consistency, and a commitment to truth.”
He said he has watched “false allegations and malicious narratives”*spread by political rivals who want to score cheap points.
Matawalle accused his critics of trying to use sensitive security issues to create propaganda.
He said those behind the attacks are politicians seeking relevance and trying to distract him from his job.
He said, “Attempts to drag my name into unrelated events are nothing but desperate political propaganda.”
He added that the allegations are baseless, the agenda is political, and the truth remains clear despite the smear campaigns.
Matawalle explained that banditry was already a deep-rooted crisis long before he became governor of Zamfara.
According to him, “Banditry was not a problem that was invented under my watch… it had grown over decades.”
He said his administration introduced structured security measures, set up high-level committees, improved intelligence, and prosecuted criminals.
He also said compromised traditional rulers were removed, and disarmament programmes were implemented with military support.
The minister noted that thousands of abducted victims were rescued during his time as governor, and 11 Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining were deported. Anyone trying to distort this record, he said, is playing politics with the pain of innocent citizens.
Matawalle also said Zamfara went more than a year without major security incidents because of these measures. He added that he faced harassment while working on the rescue of kidnapped schoolgirls in Kebbi, saying, “I received harassment and intimidation… but I refused to bow to pressure. Humanity comes first.”
He insisted that those attacking him are afraid of the ongoing defence reforms and are motivated by the 2027 political race.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the president, saying, “My loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains total… No amount of propaganda will influence his decisions.”
He praised Nigeria’s security agencies for their professionalism in rescue operations.