In a move that has sparked intense debate and raised eyebrows across Nigeria, security operatives were seen escorting a notorious bandit leader, Ado Aleiro, after what was described as a “peace dialogue” with some residents of Katsina State.
The incident, which has since gone viral on social media, took place during a controversial gathering in one of the bandit-affected areas. Eyewitness videos and reports revealed Aleiro, a feared figure known for his role in numerous violent attacks in the North-West, being ushered out of the meeting venue by heavily armed security personnel — not as a suspect, but as a VIP.
According to a detailed report by Sahara TV, the event was part of an ongoing “non-kinetic” approach to tackling insecurity in the region — an approach that prioritizes negotiation and community dialogue over direct military confrontation. The strategy, backed by some local leaders, is aimed at encouraging notorious criminal elements to lay down their arms in exchange for amnesty and possible reintegration into society.
While some residents welcomed the dialogue as a step toward lasting peace, others expressed deep concern and anger over what they perceived as the normalization of criminality. Critics argue that honoring known criminals with peace talks, and then providing them with armed escorts, sends a dangerous message — one that undermines justice and disrespects victims of banditry.
On social media, Nigerians reacted with a mix of outrage and disbelief. “So now we are giving bandits state security protection instead of justice?” one user asked. Another wrote, “This is a slap in the face of those who lost their loved ones.”
The Sahara TV footage of Aleiro walking freely under military escort has reignited calls for transparency and accountability in the government’s counter-insurgency efforts.
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