Bello Turji, a leader of an armed group operating in north west Nigeria, has denied claims that he collected money from the Zamfara State Government during peace negotiations held when Minister of Defence Bello Matawalle was governor of the state.
In a video released on Saturday, Turji said he met Minister Matawalle at the Government House in the course of dialogue aimed at ending violence but insisted that no money was paid to him.
“Together with Kamarawa, we met with Mr Matawalle during the peace dialogue, but I never collected money from him as claimed by Mr Kamarawa. Matawalle has never given me even N5 million,” Turji said.
The denial followed allegations by Musa Kamarawa, a former aide to Matawalle, who claimed that the former governor provided money, vehicles and other benefits to armed group leaders in Zamfara as part of a peace initiative.
Mr Kamarawa made the claims in a video circulating online amid an ongoing court case between Matawalle and a Sokoto based cleric, Bello Assada.
Assada has accused Matawalle of supporting armed groups during his time as governor between 2019 and 2023.
Matawalle has sued him for defamation.
Kamarawa alleged that Matawalle contracted armed group leaders, including Turji and Halilu Sububu, to supply cows for Sallah celebrations and for his daughter’s wedding in Maradun Local Government Area.
He said he was directed to pay N88 million for the cows and arrange their transport.
He also claimed he was instructed to complete an uncompleted house for Turji in Fakai town, Shinkafi Local Government Area and that he facilitated the purchase of livestock feed worth about N42 million, which he said was distributed across Zamfara, including to armed groups.
In his response, Turji said Kamarawa was lying and acting on behalf of political interests in the state.
He added that he had no reason to support Matawalle, claiming his group suffered an airstrike during Matawalle’s tenure in which many people were killed and that his father was arrested and detained at the time.
“Under Mr Matawalle, my father was arrested and jailed for no reason, which is why Mr Matawalle is among the people I don’t like in my life,” Turji said.
He confirmed paying about N650,000 to Kamarawa for livestock feed but said he was not aware that the items were said to be government donations.
Matawalle, through his media aide, Yusuf Dingyadi, rejected Kamarawa’s claims and described him as a gun runner who was appointed as an aide as part of efforts to end violence in the state.
Dingyadi said Kamarawa had supplied arms to armed groups operating in Zamfara and neighbouring states and was brought into government to help facilitate peace talks.
He said Matawalle later distanced himself from Kamarawa after security agencies arrested him.
According to Dingyadi, Kamarawa was prosecuted and sentenced to 20 years in prison during Matawalle’s administration.
He also accused the current Zamfara governor, Dauda Lawal, of backing Kamarawa’s recent claims for political reasons.
Bello Matawalle’s peace dialogue policy in Zamfara involved negotiations and amnesty offers to armed group leaders.
