The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, was fully involved in banditry activities when he was the State Governor.

Governor Dauda Lawal further alleged that while he was a governor, Matawalle kept some bandits in the Zamfara State government house.

Lawal stated this on Wednesday, September 18, in an interview with Television Continental (TVC). He demanded that Matawalle resign his position as Minister.

Govern Lawal said, "There were a lot of issues in the past with my predecessor. In fact, let me say this is very categorical. If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations against me. And that would have been more honorable because from all the information we’re getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of these banditry issues.

"Typical is the fact that there was a permanent secretary when his children were abducted; it was unfortunate that he had to pay ransom through the government house. And it was also very clear based on all the allegations that bandits were being kept at government house. You know, there are so many issues."

The Zamfara State Governor stated that the appointment of the former governor as Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu was unfair to the people of the state.

He advised Matawalle to resign from his position and clear his name.

"So for me, honestly, if I were him, I would step aside and face this allegation until I clear my name before I come back and continue my job. That should have been more honorable. And how can you imagine all these allegations against him? And he’s still the Minister of Defense. I mean, that is unfair.

"This man could have been honorable, stay aside, face all these allegations, clear his name and then come back and continue to do whatever he wants to do. Whether he wants to remain as minister or he wants to do something else, that would have been more honorable as far as I’m concerned. If I’m in that position, believe me, I’ll put in my resignation letter," Governor Lawal added.

Matawalle served as the Zamfara State governor from 2019 to 2023.