A notorious bandits leader known as Ado Aleru who was declared wanted for heinous crimes in Zamfara State has been turbaned Sarki Fulani by the Emir of Yandoto Daji Emirate, Aliyu Garba Marafa.
The turbaning ceremony took place on Saturday in the evening hours, but very brief, according to reports obtained by CAPITAL POST.
With the Chieftaincy title, the bandits leader is now the Chief of Fulanis in Zamfara State.
Several bandit group leaders came from the forest on motorbikes without their weapons to grace the occasion and celebrate with one of their own.
Source by a local said, the Chieftaincy title was a ploy to advance peace and negotiation process towards a lasting solution.
According to an indigene who witnessed the occasion, said Tsafe and the Yandoton Daji Emirates, and other neighbouring communities have severally been invaded by the Aleru-led bandit group without any resistance.
He said, the Aleru group has been collecting taxes and all manner of levies before allowing them access their farmlands, hence, it was expected that the turbaning would help even as the Aleru will be joining meetings at the Emir’s palace from time to time.
The bandits leader was said to have been leading government negotiations with other terrorist groups in the forest which the Emir believed, has led to peace being witnessed in Zamfara State in recent times.
“It was aimed at providing lasting peace in the emirate, the emir told us that there is a peace accord between the emirate and the bandit group,” a source said.
“As a result of Aleru’s effort in peace and reconciliation, a Chieftaincy title was given to him.”
Reacting to whether Zamfara State governor Alhaji Bello Matawalle was aware, he said, yes, adding that a terrorist cannot be coronated without the governor knowing.
“Of course (state government was aware), we can not do otherwise. We are terrorised, we cannot go to our farms; some of our people have ran away from the town. How can we live in that situation?” he queried.
He revealed that it was terrorists that called the attention of the Emir without anybody’s prompting that they were ready for peace.
It is recalled Yandoto Daji was carved from Tsafe Emirate by the State governor in May this year.
The emirate which was created with a second-class emir comprises Yandoton Daji, Keta, Kizara, Bawa Kwanga, Kwaren Ganuwa, Danjibga, and Kuncin Kalgo districts with headquarters at Birnin Yandoto under Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
Efforts to get reactions from the state government were not successful as the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Mamman Tsafe, who is also from the local government area did not respond to calls.
