Eric Patrick
A notorious bandit kingpin Ado Aleru, who remains on the Nigerian security forces’ wanted list, has once again appeared in public — this time leading a peace meeting in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The meeting, aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between Fulani herders and other local communities, was attended by Nigerian Army personnel, local community leaders, and members of several bandit factions, including Aleru’s group.
This was disclosed in a post by an X user, Bakatsine #DanKatsina50 on Saturday.
Aleru was seen speaking at the gathering, despite his fugitive status, discussing measures to ease tensions between Fulani groups and other residents.
This is not the first time Aleru has taken part in such peace efforts.
However, critics point out that past peace meetings involving Aleru have not stopped violent attacks, for which he is often blamed.
He was previously conferred with a traditional title in Zamfara State during the tenure of former Governor Bello Matawalle, who now serves as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence.
The parley in Danmusa is the latest in a series of attempts to broker peace between local communities and armed groups.
READ ALSO: Terror in Katsina: Bandits Kill, Injure, Abduct Residents
Aleru’s presence, however, remains controversial due to his alleged involvement in multiple deadly attacks, including a raid in Kadisau community, Faskari LGA, where over 50 people were reportedly killed.
Meanwhile, earlier reports by First News noted the arrest of Aleru’s wife and sister in Saudi Arabia.
Violence continues to plague parts of Katsina and Zamfara states, despite previous peace accords.
In 2019, the Zamfara State government signed a peace agreement with bandit leaders.
The following year, reports indicated that 15 new Hilux vehicles and monetary gifts were distributed to self-proclaimed “repentant” bandits in a bid to encourage disarmament.
Yet, attacks and kidnappings persist across the region, raising questions about the effectiveness of these peace initiatives and the government’s strategy in dealing with armed groups.
