“Stop Calling Us Terrorists If You Want Peace” — Bandit Leader Ado Aliero Warns Nigerian Government

Ado Aliero, a notorious bandit leader long declared wanted by Nigerian authorities, has issued a stark warning to the federal government, demanding an end to the use of the term “terrorist” to describe him and his followers. Speaking at a controversial peace meeting over the weekend, Aliero declared that unless this label is dropped, peace efforts will fail.

Despite a ₦5 million bounty on his head and being on the police wanted list since 2020, Aliero appeared publicly in Katsina State during a meeting attended by Nigerian Army officers, police personnel, traditional rulers, religious figures, and local government officials. In a video circulating online , the bandit leader defended his actions and claimed his group has been mischaracterized.

Aliero revealed that Nigerian soldiers had once lived in his home for six years without incident, suggesting a previously peaceful coexistence. He emphasized that he and other members of his group have been shunned by their families, who do not support their criminal activities. “Since we started this banditry, our parents have not supported it. They dislike what we are doing and have even chased us out of their homes,” he said.

He also claimed that many who joined the armed groups were driven by poverty and a lack of opportunities, arguing that economic desperation left them little choice. “Those who want to go and farm should farm, and those who want to graze their cows should do so. All we know is how to rear cattle and farm,” he stated, while urging reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

Aliero expressed frustration over government narratives that portray repentant bandits as being rehabilitated and given access to education. He insisted that such claims were false and that no real reintegration programs had reached them. “They should stop saying that bandits have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society — that is simply not true,” he said.

He acknowledged that kidnappings had occurred, including the abduction of soldiers in places like Yanwari and Yankusa, but maintained that there is now an opportunity for peace. “It’s time to renounce violence and lay down our arms. Otherwise, we will be killed. This is the plain truth. If we return to peace and pursue education, our children will have a better future and will succeed,” he said.

Aliero ended his message with a direct plea to President Bola Tinubu and the federal government, saying that peace is only possible if the group is no longer referred to as terrorists. “For the sake of Allah, I am pleading with the President of this country—please stop calling us terrorists or bandits. If the government truly wants us to live in peace, it must stop using such names.”

Claiming to be one of the original masterminds of the armed movement, Aliero asserted his influence and warned that unless mutual understanding replaces condemnation, there will be no resolution. “If we cannot forgive the past and embrace each other, what hope is there for saving ourselves?” he asked.