By: Abdullahi InuwaÂ
In a startling international twist to Nigeria’s fight against banditry, Saudi Arabian authorities have reportedly apprehended two women alleged to be the wife and mother of Ado Aliero, one of Nigeria’s most feared bandit kingpins.
Sources familiar with the case revealed that the duo was picked up in an intelligence-led operation believed to be connected to a network of fugitives tied to the deadly Northwest insurgency. The arrest reportedly took place in the holy city of Medina, where the women had been living under assumed identities.
Ado Aliero, known for orchestrating mass abductions and violent attacks across Zamfara and neighbouring states, has long been on Nigeria’s most wanted list. His rise in the criminal underworld has been linked to a web of local and transnational support, raising fresh questions about the reach and financing of bandit networks.
Nigerian security agencies are said to be in close coordination with their Saudi counterparts as investigations deepen. The identities and roles of the arrested women are yet to be officially confirmed, but sources suggest they may hold key intelligence to Aliero’s movements and funding.
This arrest could mark a major breakthrough in regional efforts to dismantle the leadership structure of terror cells destabilising northern Nigeria.
More updates to follow as the story develops.
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