Tension is mounting in Zamfara State after reports surfaced that notorious bandit kingpin, Ado Aleru, executed seven of his own fighters for allegedly betraying him and carrying out unauthorised kidnappings.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the executions took place across Takulawa, Turba, Bamamu, and the Yamma forest area. Aleru reportedly accused the men of organising abductions along the Gusau–Yankara highway without his consent, a move he believed was attracting dangerous attention from security forces.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that Aleru personally carried out the killings after confirming their involvement in the highway kidnappings. The development has sparked fear and unrest among his loyalists, with many interpreting the act as evidence of mistrust and cracks within his once tightly controlled network.
Ado Aleru, who has been declared a wanted terrorist by the Federal Government, is widely feared across Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto States. He is infamous for masterminding mass abductions, killings, and cattle rustling that have destabilised communities in the North West.
Despite his violent reputation, Makama revealed via his X handle that Aleru is currently engaged in discussions with a federal committee exploring peace talks in a bid to reduce the prolonged insecurity in the region.
“He personally executed seven of them after confirming they were behind the recent abductions. He feared their actions were drawing too much attention from security forces,” Makama wrote.
The executions, however, appear to have backfired, creating fear and dissatisfaction within Aleru’s camp and raising questions about his grip on power. Security experts warn that the development may signal deeper fractures within bandit groups, potentially complicating peace efforts in the North West.