Stop calling us terrorists If you want peace — Aleru warns

Notorious bandit leader Ado Aleru has warned that his group will not abandon violence as long as they continue to be labelled as terrorists.

Speaking during a peace dialogue in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, Aleru said stigmatisation undermines efforts to achieve reconciliation and lasting peace.

Representing his group at the meeting, Aleru claimed that many youths involved in banditry were driven by long-standing grievances, systemic neglect, and perceived injustices.

“Our parents are not proud of what we are doing. Even we do not truly want this life,” he said. “But circumstances pushed us into it.”

He reminisced about a past when farmers and herders coexisted peacefully and security agencies acted with impartiality, stating that a return to such times was still possible.

However, he insisted that this would only happen if the authorities and society showed respect and stopped the demonisation of armed groups.

“As long as we are still being called terrorists, then do not expect us to stop behaving like terrorists,” Aleru warned.

The dialogue session was part of broader peace efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s North-West.

Security agencies, local authorities, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders are working to de-escalate violence and reintegrate armed groups into society.

The initiative is one of several ongoing attempts to address the root causes of insecurity in the region, including marginalisation, poverty, and competition over land and resources.