iDeemlawfulA former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) in the Zamfara State Government, Musa Muhammad Kamara, has made a major political revelation, openly accusing Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, of providing support to notorious terror commanders through vehicles and cash while he was in office.
Kamara, speaking in Hausa in a video obtained by Sahara Reporters, described how vehicles and funds were allegedly supplied to notorious bandit leaders, including Kachalla Halilu, Bello Turji, and Ado Aleru, during Matawalle’s administration. Kamara said the claims currently circulating in the media are “not false,” maintaining that he personally handled parts of the transactions.
He said, “Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Ta’ala Wabarakatuh. My name is Musa Muhammad Kamara, former SSA under the former Zamfara State Government of Dr. Bello Mutawalle of Maradun.
“This is the matter: there is a lot of talk, and even after the government changed, there was no place where it was said that I was dismissed or suspended until we left office. Now, I am seeing on the media that a petition is circulating against Malam Murtala Bello Assada, accusing him of insulting and defaming the Minister of Defence.”
“There are some clips I watched in which Malam Murtala Bello Assada was speaking. So, we see that there are accusations and counter-accusations. This thing is not false,” he said.
‘Vehicles Were Bought And Given To Bandit Leaders’
According to Kamara, vehicles were purchased under directives from the former governor and handed over to the prominent terror chiefs.
“There is a clip I saw where the Mallam said that vehicles were bought. Wallahi, Summan Tallahi Billahi, vehicles were bought and distributed. Vehicles were given to Kachalla Halilu, Turji, Ado Aleru; those motorcycles were truly bought and given out.
“There is another clip I saw again recently that they were “settled”, given money. Truly. I, Musa Kamara, was among those who were given that settlement.”
He further alleged that large sums of money were distributed to bandit groups across all 14 local government areas of Zamfara State.
“This bank settlement record shows all 14 local governments of Zamfara State and their names. There is none of them that did not receive ₦3 million. When the money was added, it totalled ₦42 million, and it entered my account as a settlement of ₦28,020. Each local government I know received its amount, and the money was also given to the youths.”
In one of the most serious claims, Kamara alleged that Minister Matawalle protected a well-known terror chief, Haru Dole, who was believed to possess “over 500 AK-47 rifles,” after he was detained.
Kamara said Haru Dole was apprehended by security personnel at Gusau Hospital and taken to Abuja, but Matawalle allegedly stepped in.
“Matawalle sent his aide, Dr. Bashir Maru, to the hospital to take the man and hide him, and that was done,” he alleged.
The former SSA also said he took part in acquiring and refurbishing a property that was allegedly gifted to terror commander Bello Turji.
He said: “Malam Murtala also spoke about the house that was bought for Turji. Billahi, Allazi La Ilaha Illa Hu; a house was bought. I was the one who bought the house… The house was bought, completed, and handed over.”
Kamara further recounted managing ₦88 million intended for buying cows for Sallah distribution to residents. He claimed the money was handed to Kachalla Halilu and Kachalla Turji to procure the cattle, many of which were later diverted or stolen.
Kamara ended his revelations by urging Malam Murtala Bello Assada, the initial whistleblower who is reportedly facing pressure and a petition for defamation, to allow him to serve as the main witness.
He said, “That is why I want to confirm that the allegations being made are true. I beg Malam Murtala Assada, for Allah’s sake, to support me as a primary witness because I will go to court and I will speak the truth; what I know, even what Malam Murtala does not know. I will come with my evidence and prove to the court what actually happened.
“I swear by Allah’s law, there are things that people do not know, and I will reveal them in court. The Mallam himself does not know some of them. I will say them because this has now reached the stage where justice must be done for the people.”
Matawalle was appointed Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023. He served as Zamfara governor from 2019 to 2023.
Kamara is not the first to accuse the ex-governor of links to banditry. In 2024, the current governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, in a TV interview, also accused the minister of sponsoring bandits and urged him to resign and address several allegations, including money laundering, tied to his period in office.
If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me.”
However, Matawalle denied the claims, saying he swore on the Holy Qur’an when he was governor between 2019 and 2023 to reject the allegations, but Lawal and other politicians in the state refused to swear to support their accusations.
“It was not only me that dialogued with bandits. Remember, all the governors dialogued; the then governors of Niger State, Habu Sani Bello, and the governors of Sokoto and Katsina states did the same. Why only me? Because it is Zamfara?
“Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas. Our people are just different,” he said in an interview with Channels TV.
