Musa Suleiman
The Zamfara Conscience Movement (ZCM) has expressed grave concerns over the apparent close relationship between the Zamfara State government, led by Dauda Lawal Dare, and notorious bandits and criminal gangs that have devastated the state and neighboring areas in the North-West region.
The ZCM’s concerns escalated following the emergence of a video clip featuring Bello Turji, a prominent bandit leader, openly criticizing eminent political leaders such as the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. The ZCM finds it highly improbable that such bold statements could have been made without governmental support, pointing to a potentially deeper and more sinister collaboration with these criminal elements.
In a statement signed by ZCM Chairman Sahabi Lawali, the movement highlighted a prior video showing hooded armed bandits confessing to having ties with the government. These disturbing revelations, coupled with Turji’s audacious declarations, suggest a worrying trend of collusion between the current administration and criminal groups.
The ZCM warns that this alleged nexus undermines the rule of law, erodes the ethical foundations of the political process, and jeopardizes the safety and well-being of citizens. They call for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into these developments to ensure that justice prevails and the integrity of Zamfara’s political system remains intact.
The group urges the administration to address these allegations head-on and take swift, decisive action to dismantle any existing alliances between the government and the bandits. They emphasize that public trust in leadership and the rule of law must be restored, and immediate and thorough measures are critical to safeguard the interests of citizens and uphold the sanctity of the political process in Zamfara State.
Furthermore, the ZCM notes that the stark difference in the security situation in Zamfara State under the two administrations of Matawalle and Lawal is undeniable and warns Governor Lawal to concentrate more on taking action to address the escalating violence in the state and prioritizing the well-being of the people over personal vendettas.
The group pointed out that Governor Matawalle’s decision to engage in dialogue with bandits has been vindicated by the presence of former IGP MD Abubakar in Governor Lawal’s administration as chairman of the state Security Trust Fund after leading his transition team in 2023.
“We recall that MD Abubakar led the reconciliation committee under the previous administration of Bello Matawalle by engaging with various stakeholders, including leaders of the bandits, religious and traditional leaders, and community representatives. Despite Governor Lawal’s firm stance against negotiating with bandits, the fact that Bello Turji claims that bandits still exist in the government house suggests that MD Abubakar may still be continuing negotiations behind the scenes,” they said.
The ZCM urges a comprehensive and transparent investigation into these alarming developments to ensure that justice prevails and the integrity of Zamfara’s political system remains intact. Inaction, the ZCM warns, would only embolden criminal elements, further tarnish governmental credibility, and compromise public safety.
“The administration must address these allegations head-on. It is imperative that swift, decisive action is taken to dismantle any existing alliances between the government and the bandits,” added Lawali. “Public trust in our leadership and the rule of law must be restored. This call to action is both justified and essential. The video evidence depicting bandits pledging allegiance to Dauda Lawal is a clear indicator of the alarming collusion that threatens the state’s peace, security, and democratic ethos. Immediate and thorough measures are critical to safeguard the interests of the citizens and uphold the sanctity of the political process in Zamfara State” Lawali concluded.
Middle-Belt Times 