By Grace Manaya
A prominent youth advocacy group in Zamfara State, Zamfara Youth for Progress (ZYP), has strongly condemned what it describes as a politically-driven plot to discredit the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, warning that such moves could undermine the ongoing progress in the fight against insecurity across the North.
In a statement released to the media on Monday and signed by its chairman, Tijjani Musa Tsafe, the group alleged that a press conference was being planned by certain individuals, purportedly sponsored by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to malign the image and efforts of Minister Matawalle.
“We hereby issue this statement as a clarion call to the youth and citizens of Zamfara, urging them to reject any attempts to destabilize the ongoing fight against insecurity in our region,” the group stated.
According to the youth group, the North—especially Zamfara State—has witnessed a significant reduction in banditry and other violent crimes, thanks to the focused and strategic operations led by Minister Matawalle in collaboration with the military and other security agencies.
Chairman Tijjani Musa Tsafe noted that several notorious bandit leaders have been neutralized under Matawalle’s leadership, resulting in the restoration of relative peace to many communities that were once under siege.
“It is imperative that we recognize and celebrate these achievements rather than allow ourselves to be drawn into divisive politics that serve only the interests of a few,” he said.
The group criticized the alleged plan to host a press conference targeting the Minister as “ill-timed, unpatriotic, and a distraction from the urgent task of securing the region.” According to ZYP, the individuals and groups behind the move are “disorganized, unrepresentative, and motivated solely by personal ambition and the desire for public recognition.”
“They are hungry for attention and recognition, but their actions
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