Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described recent criticisms targeted at him as politically engineered attacks sponsored by individuals unsettled by the administration’s ongoing security reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Ibrahim Dosara, the minister said he had come under “coordinated, malicious and politically sponsored attacks” aimed at undermining his reputation and diminishing the strides made in strengthening national security.
According to him, “Public service demands courage, consistency, and a commitment to truth.”
Matawalle said he had observed “false allegations and malicious narratives” pushed by political opponents seeking cheap relevance and attempting to derail his work.
He accused his detractors of exploiting sensitive security matters to fuel propaganda and discredit his contributions to the defence sector.
He said, “Attempts to drag my name into unrelated events are nothing but desperate political propaganda.”
The minister maintained that the claims against him lacked substance, insisting they were driven purely by political motives and would not obscure the truth.
Matawalle noted that the banditry challenge in Zamfara predated his administration, stressing that it had taken root long before he assumed office as governor.
According to him, “Banditry was not a problem that was invented under my watch… it had grown over decades.”
He said his government introduced coordinated security initiatives, strengthened intelligence frameworks, set up high-level committees and prosecuted criminal elements.
He added that compromised traditional rulers were removed, while disarmament programmes supported by military operatives were also implemented.
Matawalle said thousands of abducted victims were rescued during his tenure and that 11 Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining were deported.
Any attempt to distort this record, he argued, was a deliberate move to politicise the suffering of citizens.
The former Zamfara governor said the state enjoyed over a year without major security breaches due to these measures.
He recalled facing pressure while coordinating 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 were threatened by the ongoing defence reforms and motivated by calculations ahead of 2027.
Reaffirming his commitment to the current administration, he said, “My loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains total… No amount of propaganda will influence his decisions.”
Matawalle also commended Nigeria’s security agencies for their professionalism during rescue operations.