By: Abdullahi Inuwa
Fear has gripped bandit camps in Zamfara after notorious kingpin, Ado Aleru, reportedly turned his guns on his own men, killing seven of his fighters over alleged betrayal.
According to security sources, the executions were carried out across villages of Takulawa, Turba, Bamamu, and deep inside the Yamma forest axis, where Aleru maintains strongholds.
Zagazola reports that the killings followed Aleru’s suspicion that the fighters were staging unauthorised kidnappings along the Gusau–Yankara highway without his approval — a move he believed undermined his authority and drew dangerous attention from security forces.
> “He personally executed seven of them after confirming they were behind the recent abductions of travellers on the highway. Aleru feared their actions would jeopardise his grip and provoke intensified military operations,” a source familiar with the incident disclosed.
The development has sparked unrest among his loyalists, many of whom now fear the bandit leader’s growing paranoia. Some insiders described the executions as a chilling sign of mistrust and disunity within the once tightly knit gang.
Aleru, long declared wanted by the Federal Government, has been at the centre of countless atrocities, including kidnappings, killings, and cattle rustling across Zamfara, Katsina, and parts of Sokoto States. Despite his bloody track record, the kingpin has also been linked to recent peace discussions with a Federal committee seeking to end the North West insurgency.
Analysts say the latest incident underscores the fractures within criminal networks in the region, raising questions about Aleru’s ability to maintain control as pressure mounts from both security forces and internal dissent.
Source:@ZagazOlaMakama
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