The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has threatened legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following allegations that Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, was involved in kidnapping incidents in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, APC spokesperson Yusuf Gusau condemned recent claims made by Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Dauda Lawal, describing them as "baseless, defamatory and politically motivated."
The statement followed an emergency meeting of the APC State Working Committee (SWC), chaired by Tukur Danfulani, which reviewed the remarks attributed to Kaura.
"The lies being peddled by the Zamfara State Government, especially against Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, are not only misleading but must be investigated," the statement read.
Serious Allegations Against Former Governor
According to the APC, Kaura's comments, particularly those made in a recent online video interview, amount to "character assassination" and "open insults" targeted at party chieftains including Matawalle and former Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who now represents Zamfara West in the Senate.
The party claimed that Kaura falsely alleged that the December 11, 2020 abduction of over 300 students from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State, was orchestrated through a conspiracy involving Matawalle.
Furthermore, Kaura reportedly accused Matawalle of collecting N300 million from then-Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina to facilitate the students' release, but allegedly only handed N30 million to the kidnappers.
APC Demands Evidence
"The APC, which vigorously tackled banditry during Matawalle's administration, takes strong exception to these falsehoods and has directed its legal team to file a lawsuit," the statement continued.
The party has challenged Kaura to provide evidence supporting these serious allegations, particularly regarding the 2020 Kankara abduction and other alleged "prearranged" kidnappings.
The APC also demanded proof relating to other high-profile abductions, including the February 26, 2021 kidnapping of over 270 female students from Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, and victims from the College of Agriculture and Animal Science in Bakura, Zamfara State.
Defending Matawalle's Security Record
The APC emphasized that under Matawalle's tenure, many kidnap victims were rescued swiftly, and support was consistently provided to affected communities. The party listed towns such as Gwaram, Kanoma, Kaya, Faru, Janbako, Lilo, and Anka among others as evidence of his administration's proactive approach to security challenges.
This political confrontation comes amid ongoing security challenges in Zamfara State, which has been grappling with banditry and kidnapping incidents for several years.
The escalating tension between the two major political parties in the state raises concerns about the impact of political rivalries on efforts to address the security situation in the region.
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