Hundreds of women and youths from Zamfara State staged a protest in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding the sack of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over the escalating insecurity in the state. The protesters blamed Matawalle for allegedly fostering ties with bandits during his tenure as governor, which they believe contributed to the rise in criminal activities.
The protest, which was held at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS), saw demonstrators, who had arrived in 12 buses, waving placards with messages such as ‘We are dying’ and ‘DSS, save us from bandits.’ They called on the DSS Director General, Adeola Ajayi, to intervene and investigate Matawalle’s role in the security crisis.
Mallam Musa Mahmud, the leader of the protest and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Akida Forum, expressed disappointment that President Bola Tinubu had yet to relieve Matawalle of his ministerial position despite evidence provided by Governor Dauda Lawal. Mahmud urged for a thorough investigation of Matawalle’s connections with notorious individuals linked to banditry in the region.
The protesters also appealed to the DSS to help safeguard the rights and lives of Zamfara citizens, who continue to suffer from the constant threat of banditry.
Matawalle’s media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment on the allegations at the time of publication.
