The group said it was alarmed by what it described as “grave and disturbing revelations” contained in alleged confessional statements attributed to Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, a former Senior Special Assistant to Matawalle during his tenure as Zamfara State governor.
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called for an urgent National Assembly-led investigation into allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, to bandit leaders operating in Zamfara State and the wider North-West.
The group said it was alarmed by what it described as “grave and disturbing revelations” contained in alleged confessional statements attributed to Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, a former Senior Special Assistant to Matawalle during his tenure as Zamfara State governor.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG said the allegations go beyond political controversy and strike at the heart of Nigeria’s security architecture.
It raised serious questions about possible high-level complicity in the banditry ravaging northern communities.
According to the coalition, Kamarawa allegedly detailed claims involving the transfer of funds to a notorious bandits leader, Bello Turji; the procurement of dozens of Hilux vehicles for criminal groups; and the provision of extensive logistical support, including housing, cattle and other assets, allegedly facilitated by political figures in Zamfara and neighbouring states.
The CNG said the alleged testimony suggests a pattern of engagement between Matawalle and some of the most feared bandit groups in the North-West, warning that, if true, such actions would amount to “state-enabled sabotage” of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and anti-banditry efforts.
“These claims, if proven, point to a deeply entrenched web of political alliances with terror networks, capable of undermining years of military operations and exposing vulnerable communities to mass violence,” the group said.
The coalition criticised attempts to dismiss the allegations through “hurried denials and political damage control,” arguing that such reactions only deepen public suspicion.
Charanchi said, “Nigeria cannot realistically claim a commitment to defeating terrorism while credible accusations of state-enabled sabotage remain unresolved. A nation that shields suspected collaborators within its own leadership cannot secure the confidence of its citizens or win the fight against violent criminality.”
The group also faulted Matawalle’s reported decision to initiate legal action against Sheikh Murtala Asada, a cleric known for outspoken opposition to banditry, describing the move as an attempt to silence critical voices rather than a genuine effort to clear the air.
“Resorting to litigation in this context appears less like the defence of reputation and more like a calculated attempt to muzzle a critical voice at a time when transparency is urgently needed,” Charanchi said.
While reiterating its support for Sheikh Asada, the CNG urged the cleric to present any evidence in his possession to help establish the truth surrounding the allegations.
“This is the moment for all truth-tellers to speak without fear. Silencing those who raise alarms only strengthens impunity and weakens the fight against insecurity,” the statement added.
The coalition called for an immediate, independent and non-partisan investigation to be jointly conducted by the National Assembly, relevant intelligence and security agencies, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to the group, such a probe must examine alleged financial transactions, procurement records, communications and administrative decisions that may have facilitated relationships between public officials and criminal networks.
It also demanded full protection for whistle-blowers and witnesses, and insisted that any public officeholder found culpable must face prosecution, regardless of status or political influence.
The CNG said northern Nigeria has suffered “unimaginable pain” from banditry, including mass displacement, killings and economic devastation, warning that failure to fully investigate the allegations would amount to a betrayal of affected communities.
“No rank or title should confer immunity from justice,” the group said. “Nigeria cannot fight insecurity with one hand while the other shields those who profit from chaos.”