Crime
Exposed: The Real Reason Bandits Are Still Killing In The North – Ado Aleru Drops Truth Bomb
Exposed: The Real Reason Bandits Are Still Killing In The North – Ado Aleru Drops Truth Bomb
In a scene that would have been unimaginable a few years ago, Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit leader wanted by security forces, sat face-to-face with military and police officials during a peace dialogue in Danmusa, Katsina State.
His message? Equal parts frightening and revealing:
“As long as we are still being called terrorists, then do not expect us to stop behaving like terrorists.”
Let that sink in.
This wasn’t an offhand remark—it was a strategic statement. And one that raises serious questions about how Nigeria defines peace, justice, and rehabilitation in regions torn apart by violence.
🎯 Beyond the Label: What’s Driving the Violence?
Aleru didn’t defend his crimes. But he did justify them—pointing to years of neglect, systemic injustice, and the collapse of traditional relationships between communities.
He said many young men took up arms not out of hate, but out of survival.
“Our parents are not proud of us. We don’t truly want this life. We miss when herders and farmers respected each other and security agents did their jobs fairly.”
It’s a grim reminder that banditry isn’t born in a vacuum. It’s nurtured by poverty, marginalisation, lack of trust in state authority, and the slow erosion of community norms. When those factors fester long enough, violence becomes a language of negotiation—and survival.
🤝 Peace Talks or Appeasement?
The meeting in Danmusa was part of ongoing peace-building efforts between the government and armed groups. But it begs a hard question:
Are we negotiating peace, or bargaining with outlaws?
To some, it looks like appeasement. Why should armed actors get a seat at the table when their hands are stained with blood?
To others, it’s realpolitik—you don’t make peace with your friends, you make peace with your enemies. And in regions like the North-West, where violence has persisted for over a decade, peace by any means may be the only option left.
🔥 Stigma or Strategy?
At the heart of Aleru’s speech was a call to end the use of the term “terrorist.” It might sound like a manipulative demand—but it reveals something deeper:
Labels shape strategy.
Calling someone a terrorist shuts down dialogue. It makes them an enemy of the state, to be hunted, not heard. But if that same person is labelled as a “repentant militant” or “neglected youth,” suddenly the focus shifts to rehabilitation, reintegration, and reform.
This isn’t about moral justification. It’s about strategy.
If Nigeria wants long-term peace, it needs to understand the psychology behind the violence. Labelling alone doesn’t fix wounds—it often deepens them.
🛑 A Fragile Path Ahead
Nigeria is walking a tightrope. The military solution has stalled. The justice system is overburdened. And now, the government is forced to speak to men like Ado Aleru—not to legitimize them, but to stop the bleeding.
But the solution must go beyond talks.
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Rebuild trust in local governance.
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Invest in education and jobs in vulnerable rural areas.
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Hold oil companies, herders, and communal actors accountable when they exploit land and resources.
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And yes, communities must also be protected from armed groups who refuse peace.
Because if Nigeria doesn’t deal with the root causes, it’ll only keep fighting the symptoms—while the next Ado Aleru rises in the shadows.
🧠 Final Thought: Who Really Wants Peace?
Peace isn’t a ceasefire. It’s not a cheque or a handshake. It’s the restoration of dignity, safety, and structure—especially for those who feel left behind.
So as we digest Ado Aleru’s controversial words, let’s ask:
Do we want to punish the past, or protect the future?
Because in the North-West, the choice can no longer be both.
