Turbaned bandit leader says he didn’t ask for chieftancy title in Zamfara

Ado Aleru, the wanted bandit recently turbaned as Sarkin Fulani in Zamfara, has said he didn’t solicit for the title.

The bandit, on the wanted list of the Katsina state government and the police who was recently turbaned as the Sarkin Fulani by Aliyu Marafa, Emir of Yandoto, in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara state, made the disclosure in an interview published by DW Hausa on Sunday.

The turbaning of Aleru, sparked sharp criticism, and Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, subsequently suspended the emir for awarding the title to Aleru and banned traditional rulers in the state from awarding chieftaincy titles without getting government approval.

But reacting to the criticisms that has trailed the award of the title, the bandit leader said it was the emirate that came to him.

“This title, let me tell you the truth, I didn’t ask for it; they reached out to me regarding it,” Aleiro said.

“They called and informed me of what they wanted to give me. Then, I said ‘no, this shouldn’t happen’. But since I have parents, later we sat down and discussed about it, and since the new king has said what he wants to do in his kingdom, I accepted the title.”

He also denied taking part in an attack linked to him, which occurred on Kadisau village in Faskari LGA of Katsina in June, and over 30 people were killed.

“The talks about Kadisau, please, I beg you in the name of God to ask the Emir of Kadisau or look for his number and ask him the cause of the attack,” he said.

“Our relatives were slaughtered inside a mosque on a Friday in Kadisau. That was what caused the attack, and their family members took their revenge. I didn’t know of it; I was just linked to it.”