Zamfara Gold Controversy Resurfaces as Viral Post Targets Matawalle

A viral social media post has reignited public debate over the management of Zamfara State’s mineral resources and the security challenges that affected the state during the administration of former Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

The post, shared by social media commentator Cyborg Warlord, alleged that the discovery and exploitation of gold in Zamfara did not translate into improved living conditions for residents.

It also made allegations concerning the purchase and distribution of bulletproof vehicles, the displacement of residents by armed groups and the activities of foreign mining interests in parts of the state.

However, the claims contained in the post could not be independently verified, and no evidence was provided in the post to substantiate several of the allegations.

Matawalle served as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 and currently serves as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence. 

Questions surrounding Zamfara’s Gold Reserve Initiative have also resurfaced in recent months. In June 2026, a political figure and civil society group called for an account of the gold reserve programme launched during Matawalle’s administration, raising questions about the quantity of gold acquired and its current status.

Those demands represent allegations and calls for clarification, not findings of wrongdoing. 

Meanwhile, Matawalle’s former administration has previously faced disputes over government vehicles. In 2023, the Zamfara State Government alleged that billions of naira were spent on vehicles, including bulletproof vehicles, while subsequent legal proceedings concerned the ownership and recovery of some official vehicles.

The viral post has once again drawn attention to the broader questions of resource governance, insecurity and accountability in Zamfara State.

Pecohub will continue to monitor developments and seek responses from relevant authorities regarding the specific allegations circulating online.