The Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Matawalle, has been cleared of allegations linking him to the sponsorship of banditry during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

Security investigations and independent reviews conducted by relevant federal agencies have found no evidence whatsoever to support the politically-motivated claims that previously circulated in certain quarters.

The investigations confirmed that the accusations were fabrications designed to tarnish the Minister’s reputation at a time when he was leading one of the most aggressive campaigns against banditry in the North-West.

The clearance comes amid fresh scrutiny of his records, with a prominent figure in the state’s security history stepping forward to affirm Matawalle’s proactive role in combating the menace.

Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, the former chairman of the Zamfara State Committee for the Prosecution of Armed Banditry and Other Criminal Offences, delivered the emphatic defence during a recent appearance on TVC News’ flagship program, Politics on Sunday.

Shinkafi, who served as a key advisor on inter-governmental affairs in Matawalle’s administration, dismissed the accusations as baseless political smearing designed to undermine a leader who inherited one of the country’s most volatile security crises.

“While in office, Governor Matawalle organised a series of stakeholders’ meetings to put an end to banditry and terrorism in the state,” Shinkafi stated during the interview, his voice carrying the weight of first-hand experience.

These exonerating revelations arrive at a critical juncture for Nigeria’s North-West, where banditry continues to spill over into neighboring states like Sokoto and Katsina.

Matawalle, now carrying that same resolve into his present assignment as Minister of State for Defence, has spearheaded recent offensives, including a high-level directive from President Bola Tinubu directing the nation’s troops to crush kingpins like Bello Turji and put an end to banditry.