• Northern elders back dialogue to end insurgency
One of the most wanted hoodlums, Ado Aleru, has reportedly killed seven of his foot soldiers in Zamfara State over alleged betrayal.
The Guardian gathered that the elimination took place across several villages in the state, including Takulawa, Turba, Bamamu and the Yamma forest areas.
It was also learnt that Aleru accused his foot soldiers of conducting unauthorised abductions along the Gusau-Yankara highway, which he believed threatened his control and operations.
After confirming their involvement in the recent kidnappings, the kingpin leader personally killed the seven members, believing that their actions would attract the attention of the security forces.
The incident, it was added, had induced panic among Aleru’s remaining foot soldiers, who saw the eliminations as a sign of growing mistrust within the camp.
Aleru, previously listed as one of the wanted bandits’ leaders by the Federal Government, has been accused of orchestrating kidnappings, killings, and cattle rustling across Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states.
He has been engaged in peace talks with the government to end banditry in the Northwest.
In a related development, Sokoto Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, has directed security agencies in the state to treat informants the same way as bandits.
He gave the directive during his condolence visit to some communities recently affected by banditry in Wurno and Rabah Local Council areas of the state.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling banditry and urged residents of rural communities to expose anyone found living above their means to the relevant authorities for proper investigation.
Aliyu decried the activities of unpatriotic citizens who provide sensitive information for peanuts.
He warned such individuals and their accomplices to desist and seek legitimate sources of livelihood, stressing that no informant will be spared under the new strategy being adopted to curb violence in the state.
Equally, the Northern Elders Progressive Group (NEPG) has called on governors of the Northwest geopolitical zone to cooperate with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other security agencies in pursuing dialogue with bandits as a means of ending the cycle of violence.
Speaking to journalists, coordinator of the group in the Northwest zone, Yusuf Abubakar, said the forum is encouraged by efforts of the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, and other stakeholders currently exploring non-kinetic measures to restore peace in the region.
He urged governors to embrace dialogue as a better alternative to condolence visits and repeated military operations that overstretch security forces.
