Matawalle Defends Decision to Engage in Dialogue with Bandits

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits adding that the practice was supported by several governors and has led to the recovery of abducted persons and ammunition in Zamfara.

The Minister said this in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday. 

”Let me remind you I was the only governor that swore to the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connection with banditry or I am not happy with what is happening that if I am happy or if I am part of it or if I know those doing it or if I am collaborating with them God should not give  me one-second grace”

“I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits, including the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Governor of Sokoto State. Yet, I seem to be singled out, perhaps because Zamfara is a complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas,” he stated.

Drawing comparisons to the path of negotiations with bandits taken by President Buhari, in his efforts to secure the release of the Chibok girls, Matawalle said, “This is a global practice; governments across the world enter into agreements to save lives,” he added.

Source: Channels TV