Katsina, Nigeria – June 17, 2025 —
Ado Aliero, a notorious bandit leader long declared wanted by Nigerian authorities, has resurfaced publicly and issued a startling warning to the federal government: stop labelling his armed group as “terrorists” if peace is to be achieved in the region.
Aliero, who has been on the Nigeria Police Force’s wanted list since 2020 with a ₦5 million bounty on his head, made the controversial demand during a widely condemned peace meeting held over the weekend in Katsina State. The gathering, captured in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, was attended by officers of the Nigerian Army, personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local government officials from Danmusa LGA.
In his remarks, Aliero warned that his group would not cease hostilities unless the government and public refrained from calling them terrorists. “For the sake of Allah, I am pleading with the President of this country—please stop calling us terrorists or bandits. If the government truly wants us to live in peace, it must stop using such names,” he said.
Aliero, who openly described himself as one of the original masterminds of banditry in northern Nigeria, claimed that many young men joined the armed movement due to poverty and social exclusion. He also blamed the government’s counterinsurgency narrative for driving some back into violence. “When you’re constantly on the run, chased and bombed by security forces, some think going back to banditry is the only option,” he said.
Despite his notorious status, Aliero appeared to advocate for reconciliation, urging both sides to “come together and make peace” to avoid further bloodshed. “It’s time to renounce violence and lay down our arms. Otherwise, we will be killed. This is the plain truth. If we return to peace and pursue education, our children will have a better future and will succeed,” he said.
Aliero also accused the government of spreading false claims about rehabilitating and educating former bandits. “They should stop saying that bandits have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society — that is simply not true,” he declared. He challenged authorities to verify his peaceful interactions with the military, claiming that Nigerian soldiers had lived in his home for six years “without any misunderstanding.”
In a striking reflection, Aliero admitted that his own family had disowned him. “Since we started this banditry, our parents have not supported it. They dislike what we are doing and have even chased us out of their homes,” he revealed.
The self-declared warlord also acknowledged past kidnappings of security personnel in Yanwari and Yankusa, but insisted that “all are now living peacefully.” He warned that if the cycle of violence was not broken, peace in the region would remain elusive.
Observers have reacted with alarm to the government’s participation in the peace meeting. Critics argue that Aliero’s appearance alongside security and traditional authorities lends legitimacy to a wanted criminal whose gang has been responsible for countless deaths, kidnappings, and displacement across Nigeria’s northwest.
Despite his plea for peace, Aliero emphasized that he remains at the helm of the armed movement. “In any area they come from, I was the one who spearheaded this movement. I know how it all started, and up until now, I remain fully informed. There is nothing I don’t know about this struggle. Any known bandit, whether alive or dead, is under us,” he asserted.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to Aliero’s demands. However, the incident is likely to intensify the debate over the government’s strategy for addressing insecurity in the region — particularly its use of dialogue and amnesty programs for individuals designated as terrorists under Nigerian law.