In the 2021 video recorded by Channels TV, Matawalle, then governor, was asked about banditry in Zamfara. He responded by stating, "Not all of them are criminals," and suggested that some were driven to violence after being "cheated" and attacked by vigilante groups who destroyed their property.
The video has recirculated widely on social media following the recent resignation of the substantive Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, placing Matawalle's position and past comments under intense scrutiny.
The backlash has been swift on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with many users expressing outrage that an official who once appeared to rationalize banditry now holds a senior role in the nation's defence architecture. Critics have labeled him a "terrorist sympathizer" and demanded his immediate removal from office.
The controversy places additional pressure on the Tinubu administration's security team, which is already grappling with multiple kidnapping crises and widespread insecurity. The Defence Ministry has not issued an official statement addressing the resurfaced video or the calls for Matawalle's resignation.
As Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle has recently been publicly involved in coordinating responses to kidnappings, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. The resurfaced comments now threaten to undermine public confidence in his role and the government's broader security strategy.
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