The Yoruba Youths Council (YYC) has commended the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for subduing banditry and thereby dealing a decisive blow to the worrisome insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria.
YYC gave this commendation on Monday in a statement by its President, Comrade Eric Oluwole, acknowledging the successes recorded through the recent intensive onslaught by the military on bandits, especially in the Northwest, which was coordinated by the minister.
The group appreciated the minister for not disappointing the confidence reposed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that Matawalle had done a good job for the country by gradually subduing the bandits, especially in the Northwest.
According to YYC, with his record of achievements so far, Matawalle has proved himself to be the best man for this job, saying that the minister had also proved himself as one of the best “serving in the cabinet of President Tinubu based on our assessment.”
“We in the Yoruba Youth Council, the umbrella organisation of Yoruba youths across Nigeria, appreciate the contributions of the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to the successes recorded so far by President Tinubu’s administration, especially in subduing the worrisome insecurity marked by banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and senseless killings that had been ravaging the northern part of the country over the years before this administration assumed office.
“We give kudos to the minister for not disappointing the confidence reposed in him by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, when he entrusted him with the sensitive office of ensuring the security of the entire people and property of our dear country, Nigeria.
“We note with pride and satisfaction that Matawalle has done a good job by gradually subduing the bandits, especially in the Northwest. This is a commendable feat, and it is good for our country.
“With his record of achievements so far, Matawalle has proved himself to be the best man for this job. Not only that, he has also proved himself as one of the best ministers serving in the cabinet of President Tinubu based on our assessment. We congratulate him for these,” the group stated.
Speaking further, YYC equally commended President Tinubu, whom it described as a notable talent hunter “for finding Matawalle, picking him, and reposing confidence in him as one of his most intimate helpers in running the highly sensitive Ministry of Defence.”
The youth group said the recent relocation of Matawalle with service chiefs to Sokoto State, a banditry hotspot, in a special operation directed by President Tinubu to flush out bandits and other criminal elements from the North-West was yielding commendable results.
It noted that banditry and other criminalities had reduced drastically in the zone since September 3, 2024, when the minister asked for the support of the government and people of Sokoto State in executing the presidential directive on insecurity.
“As noted generally by Sokoto State residents, the initiative by the minister and service chiefs has yielded positive results by de-escalating the worrisome insecurity in the zone.
“Also, the Special Adviser to Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu on Carrier and Security Matters, Colonel Abdul Ahmad (retd.), has confirmed that the special anti-banditry operation in the North-West states has yielded positive impacts.
“Ahmad, who noted that the minister’s and service chiefs’ presence during the operation had renewed the confidence of the residents, who can now heave a sigh of relief, knowing that the military is steadfast in its resolve to protect them.
“We are happy that since the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, relocated to the Sokoto 8 Division of the Nigerian Army Command, banditry and insecurity in the North West have drastically reduced, while many notorious bandits leaders, including Kachalla Halilu Sububu, Jamilu Nazakiru, Wala Baburki, Sani Black, and Danbaleri Mashekari terrorising the zone, have been neutralised,” the group said.
According to Oluwole, other notable achievements of the minister include facilitating the significant progress made by the Defence Ministry in indigenous arms production, in which the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) plays a crucial role, transforming Nigeria into an emerging hub for advanced military hardware by aiding the growth of DICON in defence manufacturing, saying that through this initiative, many African nations now sourced military equipment from Nigeria.
Others, he said, include the enactment of the DICON Act 2023, legislation that empowers the corporation to contribute meaningfully to national security and economic development, canvassing unity and loyalty by urging Northern political elites to demonstrate complete loyalty to President Tinubu, stressing the importance of unity in addressing insecurity in the region, and thereby aligning with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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