Police: Bandit kingpin given chieftaincy title in Zamfara on wanted list

The Katsina State Police Command on Monday said Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit leader, is still on its wanted list.

Gambo Isah, the spokesman for the command, disclosed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation while reacting to the chieftaincy title recently conferred on Aleru in Zamfara State.

The Emir of Yandoto Daji one of the newly created emirates in Zamfara, Aliyu Marafa, had turbaned Aleru as Sarkin Fulani (Chief of Fulanis) in a bid to forestall attacks by non-state armed groups on his territory.

Commenting on the development, Isah explained that the command had declared Aleru wanted for crimes such as culpable homicide, terrorism, armed robbery, and kidnapping in Katsina.

Aleru, according to him, is also wanted for the killing of over 100 residents of Kadisau village in Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

In June, Channels Television reported that the Katsina State Police Command declared 47-year-old Aleru of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State wanted, placing a bounty of N5 million on him – dead or alive.

The suspect is accused to be a notorious leader of groups of bandits terrorising communities in Katsina and Zamfara states.

Days before he was declared wanted by the police, Aleru reportedly led a group of bandits to attack Kadisau village on June 9.

The armed men, numbering over 200 and armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the village on motorbikes. At least 20 villagers were killed with many others left injured during the attack.