Shame as Govt Honours Wanted Bandit Leader Who Dictates Terms for Truce, Residents say

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The Katsina State government is facing condemnation by some residents for openly honouring Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit leader wanted for terrorising Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states.

At a controversial peace meeting in Danmusa, Katsina, Aleru sat like royalty, flanked by military personnel, traditional rulers, and community leaders—a shocking spectacle that has drawn condemnation from citizens and observers alike.

Instead of showing remorse, the terrorist leader spoke from a position of power, boldly declaring, “As long as you keep calling us terrorists, we will keep acting like terrorists.”

Astonishingly, no security agent challenged him, a resident, Nuhu Bamali, said. “No official rebuked his audacity. A man responsible for brutal attacks, including the killing of innocent civilians, was treated with undeserved respect while victims of his violence remain without justice.”

He said this disgraceful episode “raises grave questions: What kind of government negotiates with men who massacre children in their sleep? What kind of military stands idly by as a terrorist delivers threats with impunity?”

The residents believed the Katsina State’s event “not only emboldens criminals but also signals that terror has been legitimised as a political tool in Nigeria.”

The Nigerians insisted that it was shameful for a wanted warlord to sit comfortably among some of the victims, celebrated rather than arrested. “This is not just a failure of governance—it is the erosion of Nigeria’s moral foundation,” they reasoned.

Earlier, Adamu Aliero-Yankuzo, aka Ado Aleru was honoured with a traditional title in Tsafe Town of Zamfara State.

Reports stated that Aleru was turbaned as Sarkin Fulani by Emir of Yandoton Daji Emirate, Aliyu Marafa on Saturday.

The bandit leader was declared wanted by Nigerian Police two years ago and bounty of five million naira (#5,000,000) was placed on him.

A journalist who witnessed the eventconfirmedthat it took place on Saturday amid wild celebration of motorbike stunts.

“Finally, notorious bandit kingpin Ado Aleru turbaned as Sarkin Fulani (The King of Fulani) of Yandoton Daji Emirate in Zamfara State. It took place around 3:30pm today Saturday 16th July, 2022,“ he reported.

In June 2020, the then Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Sanusi Buba, while declaring Mr Aleru wanted said: “The command hereby wishes to declare Adamu Aliero, 45, of Yankuzo village of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State wanted.

“Similarly, the command has placed bounty of N5 million on his head, dead or alive.

“Any person or group of persons that have useful information that may lead to his arrest, should please report to the nearest police station or call these numbers: 08033666059 or 08035448128 or 08076666207.”

Yandoton Daji is one of the two new emirates created by state government in May alongside Bazai.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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