A controversy has emerged in northern Nigeria after leaked videos and court documents linked Islamic cleric Murtala Assada with Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, a former senior special assistant to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Kamarawa alleges that several politicians in Sokoto and Zamfara have long‑standing connections with armed bandit groups, notably the notorious Bello Turji.
He claims to have acted as a go‑between, delivering money to Turji on Matawalle’s instructions and arranging the supply of more than thirty Hilux vehicles and other logistical support for the gang.
Kamarawa also accuses certain regional officials of protecting bandit operations while targeting Hausa communities and shielding Fulani bandits, and he recounts an alleged directive from a former Sokoto security commissioner to attack Hausa civilians.
He has publicly apologized, saying he participated in these activities out of fear and personal gain.
The cleric Murtala Assada, known for criticizing banditry, amplified the allegations by releasing the video of Kamarawa’s confession, prompting Matawalle to file a defamation lawsuit against Assada for allegedly spreading falsehoods and inciting unrest.
Kamarawa has pledged to support Assada in the legal battle, setting the stage for a high‑profile court confrontation that could influence public perception of insecurity in the north.
The dispute has sparked widespread debate, raised concerns about political involvement in banditry, and resulted in the removal of at least one state task‑force appointee linked to the individuals mentioned.
