By Our Correspondent
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad, has denied allegations of sponsoring banditry and called on his accusers to provide evidence. In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Muhammad defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits, a practice he claims was supported by several governors, leading to the recovery of abducted persons and ammunition in Zamfara State.
“They should bring any proof of that,” Muhammad said. “I wasn’t the only one who engaged in dialogue. The governors of Niger and Sokoto states did the same. But it seems I’m being singled out because it’s Zamfara.”
He went on to describe Zamfara as a “complex state with terrible individuals harboring devilish ideas.”
Muhammad further suggested that those accusing him of sponsoring banditry may be involved in the very activities they are accusing him of. He recalled, “I was the only governor who swore on the Holy Quran, declaring that I have no hand in banditry. If I had any involvement, I asked God to deny me even a second of grace.”
He challenged other politicians, including General Ali Gusau and current Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, to take the same oath. “None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t, it means they are part of it,” he said.
The defence Minister emphasized that his efforts, like those of other governors, were in good faith. “The dialogue brought significant success, including the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abducted individuals, including foreign nationals.”
However, Muhammad lamented that his fearlessness in tackling criminal elements in Zamfara had made him unpopular among some political figures. “The people who oppose me do so because I go after them,” he asserted, confirming that those individuals were indeed politicians.
Citing the success of the dialogue initiative, the Defence Minister noted that it was a global practice for governments to enter agreements with armed groups to save lives, drawing a parallel to former President Buhari’s negotiations with bandits to secure the release of the Chibok girls. “Governments around the world enter into agreements to save lives,” he added.
Muhammad condemned attempts to blackmail him for these efforts, saying, “People spread misconceptions out of hate, but I have no regrets because we achieved a lot of success without paying a single kobo in ransom.”
Responding to allegations of siphoning state funds, Muhammad dismissed claims made by Governor Dauda Lawal, who accused him of stealing over ₦70 billion from Zamfara’s coffers.
“In my four years, I never received such amounts. The records are with the Ministry of Finance. I pity Dauda—he should focus on providing good governance and addressing insecurity in Zamfara. Governance is a continuous process, and tomorrow, someone else will be in his seat,” Muhammad said.
He added, “How can a governor deceive the public by making such baseless claims? First, he said it was ₦70 billion, then he mentioned ₦240 billion. It’s not surprising if you know who Dauda is. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
Governor Lawal had accused the former administration of stealing billions, but despite providing evidence to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he expressed frustration that little has been done to recover the funds.
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