A civil society group has sharply criticised the governors of Zamfara and Katsina states over a controversial peace meeting held with Ado Aleru.
Naija News reports that Ado Aleru, for whom a ₦5 million bounty remains active, is a notorious bandit leader who has long been declared wanted by Nigerian security agencies.
The meeting, which took place on Saturday in Bichi community, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, drew the attendance of traditional rulers, local government officials, representatives of the Nigerian Army, and senior government officials from both states.
In videos widely circulated online, Aleru was seen addressing the gathering and advocating peaceful coexistence between Fulani herders and farming communities.
Aleru, accused by human rights organisations of masterminding mass killings, kidnappings, and widespread displacement in the north-west, appeared not as a fugitive but as a guest of honour, a development that sparked nationwide outrage.
In a statement issued on Friday, Citizens for Equity and Justice Initiative (CEJI) President Dr. Abdulmumin Sarki condemned the development, calling it a betrayal of public trust and justice.
“These are the same governors who, while campaigning, condemned so-called peace deals with blood-stained warlords,” Sarki said.
“Now in power, they are doing precisely what they once derided, normalising criminals as stakeholders in the governance process, even as tens of thousands of citizens remain unaccounted for due to the very violence these men unleashed.”
He described the gathering as a “moral collapse of governance,” citing a 2023 Amnesty International report that estimated over 10,000 people killed and tens of thousands displaced due to banditry and communal violence in the region within the last two years.
“You do not negotiate with terrorists in the open, not when the blood of their victims is still drying, not when they remain armed, wanted, and unrepentant,” Sarki added.
“It is a dangerous precedent that delegitimises state authority and emboldens violent actors.”
Sarki said both governors must now be held accountable for contradicting their own policies and putting citizens at risk.
“The Nigerian state cannot simultaneously claim to be fighting insecurity while its chief executives are sharing stages with those they should be arresting. This is a contradiction that weakens the rule of law and puts lives at risk,” Sarki said.
He called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to launch an immediate investigation into how Aleru was able to move freely and appear publicly despite his wanted status.
“It is unacceptable that a man declared wanted since 2020 was able to move around with such impunity, engage state actors, and issue statements without fear of arrest. The implication is that there may be state complicity in shielding these actors, which is a grievous national security breach,” the group warned.
He also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission and international partners to examine the incident as a potential violation of Nigeria’s obligations under international law.
“Negotiating with known perpetrators of crimes against humanity, in full view of the security agencies and the public, without any form of justice or accountability, is a breach of international norms and values,” it said.
The organisation demanded that the governors of Zamfara and Katsina explain their involvement and clarify if their administrations have formally recognised violent non-state actors as partners in peace.
Meanwhile, Naija News reports that the Katsina State Government denied claims that it is actively negotiating with bandits, clarifying that its only interest lies in reintegrating repentant criminals who willingly drop their arms and embrace peace.
Speaking at a press conference, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, stated unequivocally that the Dikko Radda-led administration had not and would not enter into direct negotiations with criminals.
“The position of the government is very clear from the beginning, Governor Dikko Radda has said the Katsina government will not negotiate with bandits,” Mu’azu declared.
He added, however, that any bandit willing to lay down arms would be given a chance to reintegrate and live as a law-abiding citizen.
“If the bandits feel the need to drop their arms and come forward, the government is ready to give them the opportunity to live like every normal citizen of Katsina State,” he said.
Mu’azu explained that the peace meetings seen in recent weeks were initiated by local communities, not by the state government.
He confirmed that Jibia and Batsari LGAs had witnessed successful dialogue between community leaders and some bandit groups.
“We are lucky that in Jibia and Batsari, the bandits came forward through messengers and initiated discussions with their communities’ leadership,” he said.
He noted that a similar peace outreach took place in Danmusa last week, where discussions between community representatives and repentant bandits had led to “another form of peace deal.”
“The discussions were robust and we are currently seeing peaceful activities in these areas,” he added.
Despite the cautious optimism, the commissioner warned that the state would continue military operations in high-risk areas such as Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume, even as peace discussions continue elsewhere.
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