Minister of Defense Denies Claims of Lakurawa Militant Activity in Northwest
Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense, dismissed claims of the presence of Lakurawa militants in Nigeria’s Northwest zone.
Speaking to journalists at his Gusau residence, the former Governor of Zamfara State explained that Nigerian troops have successfully neutralized numerous terrorist groups, destroyed their camps, and recovered weapons. He emphasized that the criminals causing havoc in the region are not Nigerians, but rather foreign elements from Burkina Faso and Mali who crossed into Nigeria to destabilize the area.
Matawalle further criticized those spreading rumors about the Lakurawa militants, suggesting that such claims were intended to tarnish the image of both the federal government and the security agencies. He noted that social media platforms, in particular, were circulating false information about banditry in the region, often without proper verification.
According to him, the military forces are actively eliminating bandit leaders and their followers, but these successes are not being adequately reported by the media.
The minister also accused local informants of providing misleading information to journalists to discredit the current administration. Despite this, he reassured the public that the government remains resolute in its efforts to eradicate banditry in the Northwest zone by 2025. Matawalle reiterated the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the security of citizens, emphasizing that efforts to rid the region of bandits would not be slowed down by misinformation.
Concluding his remarks, Matawalle urged Nigerians to disregard the falsehoods being spread by those he referred to as enemies of peace and progress. He expressed confidence that the fight against banditry is making progress, with the government determined to ensure that by the end of 2025, the region would be free from such criminal activities.
