Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit kingpin declared wanted by the Nigerian Police since 2020, has resurfaced — not in handcuffs, but at a government-endorsed peace meeting held in Bichi community, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Aleru, with a N5 million bounty still hanging on his head, appeared in a now-viral video addressing government officials, traditional rulers, and security operatives.
The event, reportedly attended by Nigerian Army personnel and other state actors, was aimed at fostering dialogue between Fulani herders and farmers in the conflict-ridden region.
The bandit leader, whose group has been linked to several killings and kidnappings in the North-West, used the platform to call for peace and mutual understanding between aggrieved parties. He also outlined steps he claimed would end violence in the area.
His presence, however, has sparked widespread outrage from civil society, security experts, and concerned citizens, who have described the meeting as a dangerous precedent and a betrayal of justice.
A top Katsina State government source, who spoke under anonymity, condemned the gathering, questioning why law enforcement failed to arrest Aleru despite his open appearance.
“This is the same man the police declared wanted under CP Sanusi Buba’s leadership,” the source said. “Instead of arresting him, we are sitting at the table with him. It sends a dangerous message — that terrorism pays.”
The Katsina State government, however, defended the initiative. The Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mua’zu, told BBC Hausa that Aleru and seven other bandit leaders had voluntarily surrendered and denounced terrorism.
According to Mua’zu, the group released 17 kidnapped victims as a show of goodwill and has promised to release more.
“For two years, we fought them,” Mua’zu said. “Now they want peace, and anyone who genuinely renounces banditry will be accepted and reintegrated. Islamically and even by Geneva Convention standards, we are compelled to give peace a chance.”
But critics say this approach undermines rule of law and emboldens criminality. They argue that while amnesty can be strategic, it must not be at the expense of justice for victims.
Aleru was previously crowned a “Sarkin Fulani” by the Yandoto Emirate Council in Zamfara in 2022 — a move that sparked national condemnation and led to the suspension of the emir who conferred the title.
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