Nigeria, Nov. 26 -- The rift between the federal government and Zamfara State over security strategy has taken on fresh dimensions, as the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, accused the state governor, Dauda Lawal, of deliberately sidelining him.

He warned that any security efforts without his involvement "will amount to nothing." The allegations were made in a recent interview with DCL Hausa, monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Matawalle, who served as Zamfara governor for four years before his ministerial appointment, stated that Mr Lawal bypassed him during a recent meeting with the senior Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, in Abuja, despite Matawalle reportedly being present in his office.

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