Former Zamfara governorship candidate, Sani Shinkafi, has called for the immediate removal of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, following renewed outrage over a resurfaced video in which the former governor said, “Not all of them are criminals,” in reference to bandits.

The comment, made during a 2021 media briefing at the State House, Abuja, went viral again this week, prompting widespread criticism from Nigerians who questioned how a defence minister could have made such a statement amid persistent bandit attacks in the North.

In a statement, Shinkafi said the video reflects poorly on Matawalle’s ability to confront the same criminal groups he once appeared to defend. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act decisively and remove the minister from office, insisting that national security requires strong and credible leadership.

Shinkafi also praised the appointment of retired General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence, describing him as a disciplined and experienced military officer capable of driving reforms in the security sector.

He argued that the structure of the Defence Ministry should be streamlined, stating that the position of Minister of State creates duplication and weakens coordination in key areas such as maritime security, veterans’ affairs, and defence industries. He urged the federal government to scrap the office entirely.

The former governorship candidate further criticised the appointments of both Matawalle and former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, describing them as among the weakest decisions in the sector in recent years. He said Nigeria cannot afford questionable leadership at a time when terrorism, kidnapping, and armed banditry continue to threaten national stability.

Shinkafi warned that retaining Matawalle in office could create internal friction under the new minister, stressing that he should resign or be removed in the interest of national security.

He concluded by noting that the world is watching how Nigeria handles its defence leadership at this critical moment.