Hot Source• It’s wrong for govt to fight repentant terrorists, says commissioner
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
Residents of Katsina State were aroused by anger and resentment on Sunday following the engagement of a wanted terrorist kingpin, Ado Aleru, in a peace deal with residents of Danmusa Local Government Area of the state.
Aleru, who was declared wanted by the Katsina State Police Command in 2020 for terrorising Katsina and Zamfara communities, attended a meeting in the Bichi community of Danmusa with other terrorist leaders to explore ways of ending terrorism in the area.
The Saturday peace meeting, which sparked outrage and concern among residents of the state, was also attended by the personnel of the Nigerian Army, Danmusa Local Government officials, traditional and religious leaders, as well as farmers in the area.
During the peace parley, Aleru was seen in a video clip addressing the gathering on measures to be taken by the government, herders, farmers and other communities to ensure peaceful coexistence in the banditry-ravaged local government.
But a top government source, who is against negotiations with terrorists in the state, described the resurfacing of the terrorists’ kingpin, who has been on police watchlist for over four years, as an attempt to evade justice.
In a chat with THISDAY, the source added that involving the renowned terrorists’ leader in a peace deal may undermine the government’s ongoing efforts in tackling security challenges in the state “because he is not sincere in all his dealings”.
“Ado Aleru was declared wanted by police in this state under the leadership of CP Sanusi Buba. The command even placed a N5,000,000 bounty on his head for anybody with useful information that could lead to his arrest.
“He (Aleru) has made himself available now, they should go and arrest him to face the wrath of the law, but certainly not to negotiate with him because he is not sincere,” he said.
However, the state Commission for Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mua’zu, told BBC Hausa Service that Aleru and seven other terrorist leaders had voluntarily renounced terrorism and surrendered their arms to the security agencies.
He said the terrorist kingpins denounced their nefarious activities during the peace parley and had since released 17 hostages who had been handed over to their relatives.
He added that the terrorist leaders have also vowed to release all the abductees in their custody for peace and development to thrive in the local government.
According to the commissioner, it would be very wrong for the state government to continue fighting the terrorist leaders because they have accepted peace and surrendered their arms.
He said: “We spent two years fighting these criminals and the governor has made it clear that he will not negotiate with the criminals, but anyone of them who genuinely denounces banditry will be accepted and reintegrated into the society.
“But now that they have renounced banditry, surrendered their arms and made themselves available for peace and dialogue, the government cannot continue fighting them.
“Islamically, it is wrong for the government to continue fighting them since they accepted peace. And going by the Geneva Convention, it is also wrong to extend the fight against the criminals after they came for dialogue.”
