Nigerians May Now Know Real Sponsors Of Banditry In Zamfara

The opportunity for Nigerians to know the reals sponsors of banditry in Zamfara State may have come.

This is because the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has okayed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, seeking to make this possible.

Zamfara state-based human rights activist, Abubakar Dahiru instituted the suit aiming to compel the Federal Government to investigate alleged link between the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle and the operation of banditry in Zamfara State.

President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Inspector General of Police are the 1st to 3rd defendants.

The plaintiff, through his counsel, Mr. Ojonimi Apeh, is praying the court to declare that “it is imperative for the 1st Defendant (Tinubu) herein to give directions to the 3rd Defendant (IGP) to investigate the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara state and in particular the allegations surrounding the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Matawalle in relation to banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara state with a view to securing and/or restoring public safety in Zamfara state.”

He is also seeking an order of court mandating the 1st Defendant to direct the 3rd Defendant to investigate kidnaping and banditry in Zamfara State, and in particular the allegations surrounding the Minister of State, Defence Hon. Bello Matawalle

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It seeks also, “a declaration that by the provisions of Section 215(3) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, and other relevant laws, the 1st Defendant herein either by himself or through such other Minister of the government of the Federation as he may authorise can give directions to the 3rd Defendant herein with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order in any part of the federation.

1. “The Plaintiff avers that armed banditry and kidnapping have rendered thousands of the people of Zamfara orphans, widows, widowers, homeless, hungry, etc due to the activities of criminals who maim people, extort their monies, kill their loved ones and subject them to all manner of physical and emotional torture.
2. “The Plaintiff avers that he recently listened to the interview of Governor Dauda Lawal on TVC Television on 18th September 2024, wherein he publicly accused Hon. Bello Matawalle of involvement with kidnappers and bandits in Zamfara State.3.
3. “The Plaintiff avers that he has also read an online publication by Umoru Faruk Salifu in the 21st Century Chronicles online Newspaper of 22nd September 2024, where he accused Hon. Bello Matawalle of sponsoring bandits, buying vehicles for bandits, sabotaging efforts of law enforcement agents to curb banditry and kidnapping in North Western Nigeria, granting amnesty to terrorists, etc.4.
4. “The Plaintiff avers that he also read an article by Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia wherein he chronicled series of allegations of Hon. Bello Matawalle’s involvement with banditry and kidnappings in Zamfara state.”

The issue of kidnapping and banditry in Zamfara state and indeed other states in the country has been a pain in the neck, and now that there appears to be a real move to expose sponsors of banditry, the country may heave a sigh of relief.