The Emir of Birnin ‘Yandoto of Tsafe Local Government Area, Alhaji Aliyu Marafa, has incurred the wrath of Zamfara Government for conferring a chieftaincy title on a banditry kingpin, Ado Alero.
Alero was turbaned as the Sarkin Fulani by the Emir on Saturday.
The decision to confer the title on the banditry kingpin was premised on the pivotal role he played during a recent peace process locally arranged between the emirate and the bandits terrorising Tsafe Local Government Area.
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However, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Kabiru Balarabe Sardauna for Governor Bello Matawalle, the government distanced itself from all the processes and announced the suspension of the emir with immediate effect.
More than 100 bandits were said to have attended the turbaning ceremony.
Locals in Tsafe town of Zamfara State said over 100 bandits on Saturday attended the turbaning ceremony of Aleru.
According to a source, “the bandits were going on motorcycles without their guns. It was a brief ceremony attended by a few people.
“The Emir of Yandoto, Alhaji Garba Marafa, gave the title of Sarki Fulani to the notorious bandit who operated in Zamfara and Katsina states because he was willing to embrace peace.
“At a meeting, Ado Aleru agreed to stop attacking the communities and villages in the emirate. He has also agreed to allow people to go to their farms.
“This made the emirate confer the title on Aleru so that he would help to ensure peace returns to the emirate.”
In a related development, a large number of bandits from Zamfara forest have reportedly crossed to Tudunwada-Sabon Layi in the western part of Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State, where they killed a local and injured three during a looting spree.
“At the moment, they are on a looting spree at Ganun-Gari near Dawakin Bassa after they ransacked neighbouring Unguwar Baki,” an official of Birnin-Gwari for Security and Good Governance told Vanguard.
“The bandits have rustled cattle and took away foodstuffs at Unguwar Baki.
“Casualty figures are unknown at this time. But the bandits are expected to return through the same route (Tudunwada-Sabon Layi) to their hideout in Zamfara.
“One person was killed and three others injured at Ganun-Gari. The bandits are now at Dawakin Bassa. There is heavy gunfire at the moment. The gun sounds are heard at Unguwar zakara and Kubo villages.
“The bandits will retreat to their base after operation at Dawakin Bassa through the same route they followed.”
