(AN EXTRACT FROM THE BBC HAUSA INTERVIEW)

By

Managing Editor
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Governor Bello Matawalle had personally reacted to the recent invasion of his two private houses by the operatives of the security agencies on Friday.

The Governor in an interview with the BBC Hausa service on Saturday morning said the security operatives went to an extent of looting personal belongings of his wives and children, including clothing materials.

He said he was not issued with the copy of the purported court order claimed to have been secured to invade his house, noting that the action demonstrated by the security agencies on Friday was a clear breach of his fundamental rights, especially the right of privacy.

He insisted that the majority of the vehicles claimed to have been taken away by the security agencies from his two houses in Gusau and Maradun were procured by himself since before he became a Governor and wondered why the state government of Zamfara is making mockery of the people over the issue.

He also alleged that the security operatives went beyond vehicles recovery and allegedly picked up valuables and belongings of his wives and family members, including charcoal stoves, clothing materials and prayer veils belonging to his wives.

He also alleged that the security operatives moved away the matrimonial facilities he secured for the scheduled wedding of his daughters.

On whether it was true that forty vehicles were so far recovered from the operation, Matawalle insisted that police should display the forty vehicles for the public judgment.

“Anybody who knew Bello Matawalle will believe that my proudly business before I became a Governor of Zamfara is car business and most of the vehicles the security personnel impounded in the Friday operation are those vehicles I bought from America long before I became a Governor, but surprisingly, they are placing claim on them”.

On the next step to take, Matawalle said he must not unveil it in public.
Matawalle said he has never seen the worst scenario like what happened on Friday, where security operatives will invade the private houses of a former Governor without following due process.

“I am in Abuja and nobody call to notify me that my attention is needed but all I see was for the security to invade my private residences as if there is no law and order in Nigeria”.

He described what happened in his residences as a pure case of lack of fear of God, noting that beyond recovery of vehicles, the security operatives went to an extent of bugling the rooms of his four wives.

It is expected that, Dauda Lawal should seat up and face the problems of Zamfara state squarely, but he instead concentrated on creating another problem since he knew that I had supporters, and they would not fold their hands and allow me to be humiliated.

“The vehicles they impounded at Maradun were those donated to me by well-wishers and were all branded with my images and that of Bola Ahmad Tinubu.

He stated that he will personally not ask the security operatives or the state government of Zamfara to return the vehicles, but will take the most appropriate steps as provided for by the law.