A terrorism kingpin, Bello Turji, has narrated how the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, allegedly empowered terrorists when he was governor of Zamfara State.
As governor between 2019 and 2023, Mr Matawalle initiated an amnesty scheme that provided financial rewards and protection for bandits who surrendered their arms and abandoned criminality.
However, Mr Turji said the failed deal merely empowered some of his colleagues now residing in the cities from where they command banditry gangs operating in the bush.
Mr Turji stated this in a video released on 18 July in which he is seen standing beside an unidentified accomplice with guns.
He said the terrorists did not surrender their arms as stipulated in the deal but continued to carry out attacks through their boys.
Mr Turji claimed that the policy of the former governor was the reason insecurity escalated in Zamfara and other North-western states.
Mr Turji…