Ado Aleru, a wanted bandit leader, has resurfaced at a peace meeting in Bichi community, Danmusa LGA of Katsina state.
Aleru, who has been on the police watchlist since 2020 with a N5 million bounty on his head, was seen in a video addressing community members, government officials, security personnel, and traditional leaders during the meeting held on Saturday.
In a BBC interview, Aleru said he had lost count of the number of people he had killed.
Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency publication, reports that Aleru used the gathering to advocate peaceful coexistence between Fulani herders and farming communities.
Makama noted that the meeting was attended by personnel of the Nigerian Army (NA), Danmusa LGA officials, and religious and traditional leaders.
Aleru reportedly outlined steps that herders, farmers, and government actors must take to end bloodshed in the area.
The meeting has elicited condemnations across the state and on social media.
A top government source criticised the peace deal, calling it a betrayal of justice.
“Ado Aleru was declared wanted by police in this state under the leadership of CP Sanusi Buba,” the source told ThisDay.
“The command even placed a N5 million bounty on his head. He has made himself available now, they should go and arrest him to face the wrath of the law, but certainly not to negotiate with him because he is not sincere.”
Despite the backlash, Nasir Mua’zu, Katsina state commissioner for security and home affairs, defended the government’s involvement in the meeting.
Speaking to BBC Hausa, he said Aleru and seven other terrorist leaders had voluntarily surrendered and denounced terrorism.
He claimed they released 17 hostages as a goodwill gesture and promised to release the rest.
“We spent two years fighting these criminals, and the governor has made it clear that he will not negotiate with them,” Mua’zu said.
“But anyone who genuinely denounces banditry will be accepted and reintegrated into society.”
“Islamically, it is wrong for the government to continue fighting them since they accepted peace. And going by the Geneva Convention, it is also wrong to extend the fight after they came for dialogue.”
