Bandit Leader Ado Aleru Says Violence Will Continue if Group Is Labeled as Terrorists
Ado Aleru, a well-known bandit leader in Nigeria’s North-West, has warned that his group will not end its violent operations if society and authorities continue to label them as terrorists.
Speaking during a peace dialogue held in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, Aleru addressed community members, security officials, and local authorities on behalf of his group. He claimed that many of the youths involved in banditry were driven into violence by years of neglect, injustice, and unresolved grievances.
“Our parents are not proud of what we are doing,” Aleru said. “And truthfully, this is not the life we want. We would rather return to a time when herders and farmers lived in peace, and security personnel carried out their duties fairly.”
He stressed that reconciliation efforts will only succeed if both sides approach the process with mutual respect and an end to what he described as stigmatization. According to him, continued branding of their group as terrorists only hardens their resolve.
“As long as we are still being called terrorists, then don’t expect us to act differently,” he said.
The meeting is part of a broader peace initiative involving security agencies, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders working to de-escalate violence in the region and rebuild trust in conflict-affected areas.
Efforts are ongoing to reintegrate armed groups and restore stability in parts of North-West Nigeria, where clashes between herders, farmers, and armed factions have displaced thousands and led to widespread insecurity.
