Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit leader long linked to deadly attacks in Nigeria’s North-West, has declared that his group would not end its violent campaign as long as they continue to be branded as terrorists.
He issued the warning during a peace dialogue session in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“If we are still being called terrorists, then do not expect us to stop behaving like terrorists,” he said.
Aleru claimed that years of neglect, marginalisation, and systemic injustice against pastoralist communities had driven many youths into banditry. He argued that such conditions, coupled with what he described as biased treatment by authorities, left them little choice.
He also said many involved in the conflict were not inherently violent, but were victims of circumstance.
“Our parents are not happy with what we are doing, and even we do not truly want this life in our hearts. We would prefer a return to the way things were, where there was mutual respect between farmers and herders, and security personnel stuck to their duties without bias,” Aleru stated.
The northwestern part of the country has faced a series of insecurity, with dialogue being one of the means of quelling it.
