The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has raised serious concerns over what it described as troubling revelations contained in alleged confessional statements attributed to Musa Kamarawa, a former Senior Special Assistant to a former Zamfara State governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

The group said the allegations extend beyond partisan debate, warning that they touch on the ethical core of Nigeria’s security framework and raise urgent questions about possible high-level involvement in criminal networks driving insecurity across Northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, on Saturday, the coalition said Kamarawa was reported to have made claims involving alleged direct transfer of funds to a notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, the purchase of dozens of Hilux vehicles for criminal groups, and the supply of wide-ranging logistical support, including housing, cattle and other assets, reportedly enabled by political actors in Zamfara and neighbouring states.

According to the CNG, the alleged testimony points to a sustained pattern of engagement between Matawalle and some of the most feared bandit groups operating in the North-West.

The coalition argued that if the claims are substantiated, they indicate the existence of a deliberate and deeply rooted network of political alliances with terror groups, with the potential to undermine years of military efforts and further endanger already vulnerable communities.

The CNG said the allegations are too weighty, far-reaching and damaging to national security to be brushed aside through hurried rebuttals, selective denials or reactive political damage control, adding that a defensive response by government aides only deepens public suspicion that vital facts are being withheld.

Charanchi said: “We contend that Nigeria cannot realistically claim a commitment to defeating terrorism while credible accusations of state-enabled sabotage remain unresolved. A nation that shields suspected collaborators within its own leadership cannot secure the confidence of its citizens or win the fight against violent criminality.

“Equally troubling is the Minister’s decision to initiate legal action against Sheikh Murtala Asada, a respected cleric known for his unwavering advocacy against banditry. Resorting to litigation in this context appears less like an effort to protect reputation and more like a calculated attempt to muzzle a critical voice at a time when transparency is urgently needed.

“It is important to remind the public that Sheikh Murtala Asada has consistently insisted that minister has direct or indirect links to the very networks undermining national security. Therefore, this is the moment for the cleric to present every piece of evidence in his possession, without fear or hesitation, to further ascertain and validate the involvement of all those who may be complicit in this menace.

“The truth must not remain hidden, and no individual, no matter how highly placed, should be shielded from scrutiny. Silencing truth-tellers imperils justice; intimidating those who raise alarms only strengthens impunity and weakens the fight against insecurity.”

The coalition reaffirmed its support for clerics, journalists, civil society actors and whistle-blowers who risk personal safety to expose wrongdoing and demand accountability.

The CNG also called for an immediate, independent and non-partisan national investigation to be jointly conducted by the National Assembly, relevant intelligence and security agencies, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Charanchi said: “Such an inquiry must thoroughly interrogate the financial transactions, material procurements, communication exchanges, and administrative decisions that may have facilitated these alleged relationships.

“It must also guarantee full protection for whistleblowers and witnesses, and ensure that any public official found culpable faces swift prosecution, without regard to their political influence or office.

“We believe that Northern Nigeria has endured unimaginable suffering, mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, relentless killings and widespread fear, due to the entrenchment of banditry. The disclosures made by Kamarawa present a rare and critical opportunity to confront the underlying enablers of this crisis.

“Treating this moment lightly would be a profound betrayal of the millions of Nigerians whose lives have been shattered by insecurity. If powerful individuals involved in sustaining violence are protected, then the foundations of national security will continue to erode, and public trust will deteriorate beyond repair.

“The Coalition affirms its position with absolute clarity: any public officeholder implicated in financing, aiding, protecting or collaborating with criminal networks must be held fully accountable. No rank or title should grant immunity from justice. Nigeria cannot continue to battle insecurity with one hand while the other shields those who profit from the chaos.

“The time for evasion has passed. This is a defining moment for Nigeria’s integrity, its security, and its future. The country must choose transparency over secrecy, justice over expediency, and accountability over impunity. Nigerians are watching, and history will record the choices made in this moment.”