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Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the former Governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence, stands out as one of the most consequential actors in Nigeria’s contemporary security landscape. His multidimensional strategy which combines peacebuilding, intelligence-driven engagement, and decisive force, has been cited by local and international observers as a model worthy of study in the broader context of Nigeria’s fight against rural banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
His tenure represents a rare blend of political will, security innovation, and community-centred peace leadership.
*Understanding the Context:*
*The Roots of the Zamfara and North-West Crisis*
Contrary to simplistic narratives, the violence in Nigeria’s North-West is not ideological or religious. A growing body of research identifies the drivers as:
* Rural banditry and cattle rustling
* Chronic poverty and youth unemployment
* Illegal gold mining and competition for natural resources
* Weak law enforcement and porous borders
* Proliferation of small arms across the Sahel
According to the International Crisis Group (2020; 2021), most armed groups operating in the region are economically motivated criminal networks rather than extremist ideological movements. The Amnesty International (2021) report similarly noted that victims cut across ethnic and religious lines, undermining claims of religious persecution.
This was the complex environment in which Governor Matawalle launched a security framework rooted in dialogue, reconciliation, and strategic deterrence, a model consistent with global counter-insurgency best practices.
*Matawalle’s Peace and Security Framework: Dialogue with Deterrence*
When Dr. Bello Matawalle assumed office in May 2019, Zamfara State had reached a boiling breaking point. Communities were under siege, roads closed, farming halted, and schools abandoned.
In response, he introduced the State Peace and Reconciliation Initiative, developed through extensive consultations with:
* Fulani and Hausa community leaders,
* Ulamas and religious councils,
* vigilante (Yan Sakai) leadership,
* State Security Stakeholders.
This effort was not appeasement, but rather strategic dialogue designed to achieve:
1. Confidence-building with non-hardline actors
2. Collection of actionable intelligence
3. Reintegration of repentant offenders
4. Temporary de-escalation to enable state deployment
*Documented Early Results (2019–2020)*
Independent media organizations, including Daily Trust, Premium Times, BBC Hausa, NTA, Channels TV, TVC, Arise TV and VOA, documented significant improvements under Matawalle's watch as Gov of Zamfara state:
* Major roads reopened;
* Hundreds of abducted victims were released;
* Farming and trading activities resumed;
* Reduced attacks across many LGAs.
* The Defence Headquarters (2020) also acknowledged the improvements, noting enhanced synergy between local intelligence structures and Operation Hadarin Daji.
However, as conflict entrepreneurs, unscrupulous politicians, illegal mining interests, and hardline criminal factions undermined the peace accord, Governor Matawalle shifted toward direct confrontation.
*Total Lockdown and the “War Against Banditry” (2021)*
Criminal breaches of the peace agreement led to one of the most comprehensive internal-security responses ever implemented by a state government in Nigeria.
*1. Shutdown of Telecommunications Networks*
In September 2021, Zamfara became the first state in Nigeria to enact a statewide telecommunications blackout.
The objective was to:
* Cripple bandit communication networks;
* Block ransom negotiations;
* Disrupt surveillance on the troop movement;
* Block Sever alliances with urban informants.
The BBC (2021) and Reuters (2021) both reported notable disruption in criminal operations following the shutdown.
*2. Closure of Markets, Fuel Stations, and Cattle Routes*
A coordinated economic lockdown targeted the bandits’ logistical supply chains. This included:
* Closure of weekly rural markets;
* Restrictions on fuel sales;
* Bans on cattle movement and trade;
* Seizure of vehicles used to transport supplies into forests.
*3. Ban on Firewood Trucks and Rural Convoys*
This measure was designed to prevent disguised smuggling of food, weapons, and cash into forest hideouts.
*4. Removal of Compromised Traditional Rulers*
Several traditional leaders implicated in aiding armed groups were dismissed and or punished in various ways to serve as deterrence to others with the intention of involvement in the unpatriotic act.This restored public confidence and sent a strong message against elite complicity.
*5. Establishment of the Community Protection Guards (CPG)*
Matawalle pioneered the establishment of Community Protection Guards, a legally backed, intelligence-supportive local defence architecture.
The model was later replicated in Katsina State and influenced security reforms in Niger Republic, which awarded Dr. Bello Matawalle a national honour from the government of Niger Republic in recognition of his contributions to fighting armed banditry across the region.
*6. Massive Security Investment*
*The state procured:*
* Hundreds of patrol vehicles and distributed to security agencies fighting insecurity in the state,
* Motorcycles for forest mobility,
* Communication gadgets,
* and expanded logistics support to military and police formations.
*Impact of the Lockdown*
For several months, bandit attacks declined sharply, and displaced persons began returning home. Independent reports by TVC News, Channels TV, Arise TV, international media organisations like the BBC, VOA and local correspondents corroborated these improvements.
*The Challenge of Limited Federal Reinforcement*
While the lockdown weakened the bandits substantially, the lack of the promised 6,000 additional federal troops limited the possibility of a final clearance operation.
Matawalle’s measures were strategically designed to soften the targets for the armed forces. However, without simultaneous ground offensives to dismantle the forest camps, the gains could not be fully consolidated.
Despite this, the initiative demonstrated unprecedented state-level political will.
*Negotiation Was Strategic, Not Appeasement*
Peace talks under Matawalle aligned with recognized conflict-resolution theory. As John Paul Lederach (1997) notes, effective peacebuilding requires:
* Inclusive dialogue,
* Separation of reconcilable actors from irreconcilable ones and
* Coercive deterrence.
Matawalle applied this model by engaging actors willing to abandon crime while confronting defiant elements through state power.
*Institutional Reforms and Security Governance*
Beyond field operations, Bello Matawalle's administration strengthened institutional mechanisms, including:
* Restructuring local security committees;
* Establishing a Security Situation Control Room for real-time intelligence gathering and sharing with security architecture in the state;
* Sanctioning compromised officials;
* Enhancing coordination among DSS, police, and vigilante networks;
* Monitoring border communities vulnerable to infiltration.
These reforms contributed to a more coherent internal-security framework in the state.
*Regional and Federal Recognition*
Neighboring states of
Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Niger, later adopted elements of Zamfara’s lockdown model.
Similarly, the Defence Headquarters incorporated aspects of the strategy into Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Thunder Strike.
This cross-regional adoption underscores that Dr. Matawalle’s efforts were grounded in strategic necessity, not political theatrics.
*Conclusion: A Legacy of Courage, Innovation, and Balanced Leadership*
Dr. Bello Matawalle’s security legacy in Zamfara reflects a rare combination of courage, strategic adaptation, and innovative leadership. He offered peace when it was viable, used force when it was necessary, and implemented reforms that addressed both the symptoms and the structural drivers of insecurity.
His approach, "the dialogue backed by deterrence," remains one of the most comprehensive and documented responses to rural banditry in Nigeria’s recent history.
For Nigeria to overcome its multifaceted security challenges, leaders must demonstrate the same level of resolve, contextual understanding, and willingness to innovate.
History will record that Dr. Bello Matawalle chose the harder but wiser path - one that balanced compassion with strength and pragmatism with principle.
*Security Leadership, Humanitarian Commitments, and National Service*
Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s public career is distinguished by a consistent commitment to safeguarding human life, restoring public trust, and confronting insecurity with courage, innovation, and diplomatic skill. His trajectory—from Executive Governor of Zamfara State to Minister of State for Defence, reflects a leader whose defining philosophy is rooted in service, compassion, and decisive action, particularly in moments of national distress. Among his most notable contributions are his efforts in the rescue of abducted schoolchildren, a recurring national challenge that has tested the resilience of communities and the resolve of government institutions.
*1. Giant Strides as Executive Governor of Zamfara State*
When Dr. Matawalle assumed office in 2019, Zamfara was facing one of the most severe security crises in its history, marked by banditry, mass abductions, displacement, and widespread economic disruption. His administration wasted no time in deploying a multidimensional approach that combined community engagement, kinetic operations, intelligence-driven strategies, and humanitarian diplomacy.
*1.1 Rescue of Mass-Abducted Schoolchildren*
One of the most defining moments of his governorship was his role in securing the release of hundreds of abducted schoolchildren both in Zamfara and its neighbours, at a time when mass kidnappings had become a devastating tactic employed by armed groups across the North-West.
*Dr. Matawalle demonstrated exceptional leadership in:*
* Coordinating high-level negotiations involving security agencies, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
* Deploying state-supported intelligence networks that provided actionable information for rescue operations.
* Insisting on the protection of children’s lives as a non-negotiable priority, even in highly volatile situations.
* Ensuring safe reintegration and psychosocial support for rescued children and their families.
* Confiscation and repatriation of illegal arms and weapons from the repentant bandits and handed it over to the appropriate security agencies.
These interventions played a crucial role in the safe return of abducted students in cases that otherwise could have led to prolonged captivity or large-scale tragedy. His approach earned local and national commendation for its blend of firmness and strategic diplomacy.
*1.2 Repositioning Zamfara’s Security Architecture*
In addition to rescue operations, Dr. Matawalle transformed the security landscape by:
* Strengthening the state’s collaboration with federal security formations, including the military, police, and intelligence services.
* Establishing frameworks that improved community policing and reconciliation in conflict-prone areas.
* Supporting reconstruction and rehabilitation programs that restored livelihoods and built public confidence.
These actions laid the foundation for a more coordinated and responsive security system that continued to evolve beyond his governorship.
*2. Giant Strides as Minister of State for Defence*
Appointed Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Matawalle brought his on-ground experience, crisis-management expertise, and track record of results into national service. His tenure has been marked by active engagement, both strategically and operationally, in the fight against insecurity across Nigeria.
*2.1 Continued Leadership in Rescuing Abducted Students Nationwide*
In his new national role, Dr. Matawalle has continued to prioritize the safety of Nigerian children, recognizing that attacks on schools threaten not only individual lives but also the stability of communities and the nation's developmental future.
*His efforts include:*
* Overseeing strengthened inter-agency coordination between the Armed Forces, DSS, Police, and state governments during rescue operations.
* Implementing intelligence-led interventions that led to the safe recovery of abducted students in various regions.
* Advocating the protection of schools under the Safe Schools Initiative and supporting military deployments in education-sensitive zones.
* Championing rapid-response frameworks that improve the speed and effectiveness of security actions during crises.
* Leading a special operations against bandits in the north west region that led to the elimination of several bandits kingpins like Halilu Sububu and his collaborators, including his foot soldiers.
These contributions have reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that no child is abandoned, and that perpetrators of student abductions face the full weight of the law.
*2.2 Strategic National Security Contributions*
Beyond emergency responses, Dr. Matawalle’s broader impact as Minister of State for Defence includes:
* Supporting modernization and expansion of the military’s operational capabilities.
* Promoting improved civil-military relations, ensuring communities remain partners in securing the nation.
* Strengthening regional and international security cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism and intelligence sharing.
* His leadership reflects a clear understanding that national security requires not only military strength but also strategic diplomacy, institutional coherence, and public trust.
*3. A Legacy of Courage, Compassion, and Service*
Across both state and federal responsibilities, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle has distinguished himself as a leader defined by:
* Courage in confronting complex security threats
* Commitment to the lives and dignity of citizens
* Diplomatic intelligence in resolving crises
* A humane approach to leadership and governance
His sustained efforts in rescuing abducted students, whether as Governor of Zamfara State or as Minister of State for Defence, represents a key chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle, commitments, and determination to fight against insecurity and a testament to his personal convictions.
Dr. Matawalle’s giant strides are not merely administrative achievements; they embody a philosophy of governance where the protection of human life stands at the center of national progress.
Ibrahim Dosara, is a former commissioner of information, Zamfara during Bello Matawalle's tenure as Gov of the state
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