The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is facing intense public criticism after an old video of him resurfaced online, prompting calls for his resignation.
The footage, originally recorded by Channels TV in 2021, shows Matawalle then serving as Governor of Zamfara State making comments that appeared to defend some of the bandits troubling the state. The clip was shot at the Aso Villa in Abuja after he visited the then-President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Responding to journalists’ questions at the time, Matawalle insisted that not everyone tagged as a bandit was a criminal. He blamed certain vigilante groups for provoking violent reprisals.
His statements in the video included, “Not all of them are criminals. If you investigate what is happening and what made them take the law into their hands, some of them were cheated by the vigilante group. They go to their settlements, destroy property, and take their animals. With no one to speak for them, they sometimes go for revenge.”
The video gained renewed attention shortly after the resignation of Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, intensifying public scrutiny on Matawalle’s role and suitability for office.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), many Nigerians expressed outrage and disbelief. Some of the reactions compiled by Daily Post include:
@A6udawud: “Matawalle always negotiates with bandits instead of confronting them. He negotiated the Kebbi schoolgirls’ release. Tinubu should remove him; he has turned the Defence Ministry into a campaign base.”
@tkayose: “No wonder the APC Tinubu government uses ‘bandits’ in place of ‘terrorists’. Why haven’t Matawalle and Gumi been arrested?”
@engr_shaibu_: “Matawalle said bandits aren’t criminals—just misunderstood. Now he’s Minister of Defence writing security policy. He should be sacked immediately!”
@RealQueenBee__: “They knew who he was and still appointed him. I don’t blame him; I blame those who gave him the job.”
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