Zamfara raises alarm over alleged abduction of Gov’s aide, accuses Matawalle of using NSA’s office to harass opposition
Zamfara State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as the use of federal security apparatus to harass and intimidate opposition figures in the state, alleging the involvement of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the state government expressed deep concern over what it termed “federal impunity,” following the alleged abduction of a government official in Abuja.
According to the statement signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the government received “a shocking and distressing message” that Saleem Abubakar, a Technical Assistant in the Office of the Zamfara State Governor, was abducted in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Zamfara State Government is left with no other option but to bring to public notice how the Minister of State for Defence has used the office of the National Security Adviser to harass and intimidate the opposition,” the statement said.
It further alleged that the abduction was carried out without legal backing by operatives linked to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
“The illegal abduction was said to be carried out by a special forces unit from the office of the National Security Adviser,” the government stated.
Describing the incident as disturbing, the government alleged that the operation was orchestrated through the NSA’s office by the Defence Minister himself.
“The most unfortunate and worrying part of the abduction of Saleem Abubakar is that it was syndicated through the office of the NSA by the State Minister for Defence, Bello Matawalle,” the statement added.
According to the Zamfara Government, those who carried out the operation acted without an arrest warrant and initially took Abubakar to an unknown location.
“The abductors, without an arrest warrant, took Saleem to an unknown location, which we later found out they moved him to different facilities to cover their tracks,” the statement alleged.
The government warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy and security architecture.
“This is a perilous precedent that all Nigerians must strongly condemn. No amount of desperation is worth compromising the neutrality of the security,” it said.
The state government also appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the matter.
“We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch the highest security office of the country being used as a tool of political persecution,” the statement read.
“We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call the office of the National Security Adviser to order. Such reckless actions are detrimental to Nigeria’s reputation.”
The government insisted that due process must be followed if there are allegations against the abducted aide.
“If the Defence Minister or the abductors of Saleem Abubakar from the National Security Adviser’s office have any problem with him, they should charge him in court instead of abducting him,” it stated.
Reaffirming its resolve to pursue the matter, the Zamfara State Government said it would not relent until justice is served.
“We are closely monitoring this case of federal impunity and will follow it to a logical conclusion, ensuring that justice is served,” the statement concluded.