Eric Patrick
A notorious bandit leader who was long declared wanted by Nigerian security forces, Ado Aliero has called on the federal government and citizens to stop referring to him and his group as “terrorists” if genuine peace is to be achieved.
Speaking in Hausa during a controversial peace meeting held over the weekend in Katsina State, Aliero stated that his group would not abandon banditry unless the narrative around them changed.
“If the government truly wants peace, it must stop calling us terrorists,” he said. “We can only talk about reconciliation if we are treated with dignity.”
Aliero, who has been on the police wanted list since 2020 with a ₦5 million bounty on his head, made the statement in the presence of security officials, including Nigerian Army personnel, police officers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and representatives from the Danmusa Local Government Area.
In a video circulating widely on social media, and was seen by First News correspondent on Tuesday night, Aliero claimed that Nigerian soldiers once lived in his home for six years without any conflict, suggesting this as proof of his willingness to coexist peacefully.
According to him, “Any soldier in Nigeria can verify this.
“They stayed in my home, and there was never any misunderstanding.”
The bandit leader also admitted that his actions have led to estrangement from his own family.
“Since we began this lifestyle, our parents have disowned us. They never supported what we are doing and even drove us out of our homes,” he said.
Aliero portrayed himself as one of the original architects of organised banditry in the region, stating that many young men joined the armed groups due to extreme poverty and lack of opportunities.
“Some just want to farm or herd their cattle,” he explained.
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“But when communities are attacked repeatedly, and survival becomes a daily struggle, people feel they have no choice.”
He described the ongoing violence as a cycle fueled by desperation.
“People have been attacked more than ten times. They flee, return, and are attacked again. At that point, many believe returning to banditry is their only option.”
Aliero stressed the need for reconciliation, saying, “If we do not embrace peace now, we will all be killed.
“The truth is, if we stop the violence and pursue education, our children can have a better future.”
He also criticised the government’s claims of rehabilitating and educating repentant bandits.
“Stop saying you built schools for us or that we’ve been reintegrated into society. That’s simply not true,” he said.
Aliero urged President Bola Tinubu and federal authorities to change their rhetoric.
“For the sake of Allah, I am pleading with the President — if you want peace, stop calling us terrorists or bandits. That language only deepens the divide,” he said.
He acknowledged his prominent role in the armed movement, asserting that he remains highly influential. “Whether alive or dead, any known bandit is under our umbrella. I know how it all began, and I know everything that’s happening even now.”