A wave of fear has swept through a notorious bandit camp in Zamfara State after its leader, Ado Aleru, reportedly executed seven of his own men for alleged betrayal and disobedience.
Sources familiar with the group’s internal crisis said the killings were carried out in several rural communities, including Takulawa, Turba, Bamamu, and deep within the Yamma forest belt.
The move has reportedly sparked tension among Aleru’s fighters, many of whom now fear being targeted over growing mistrust within the camp.
According to multiple security sources, Aleru accused the slain fighters of carrying out unauthorised kidnappings along the Gusau–Yankara highway.
The abductions, he allegedly claimed, threatened his control over operations in the area and risked drawing heavy attention from military forces.
“He saw their actions as reckless and dangerous to his leadership,” one local intelligence operative told Afripost.
“He believed the frequent highway attacks would trigger intensified security raids, so he acted swiftly to make an example of them.”
Military sources’ accounts suggest Aleru personally executed the men after interrogations confirmed their involvement in recent abductions targeting travellers and traders along the highway.
The development has reportedly left surviving gang members uneasy, with fears that suspicion within the ranks could spark more internal bloodshed.
Ado Aleru, a notorious figure long linked to mass kidnappings, killings, and cattle rustling across Zamfara, Katsina, and parts of Sokoto, has previously been declared wanted by the Federal Government as a terrorist.
Despite his bloody record, sources also confirmed that Aleru had been in contact with a federal peace negotiation team seeking to broker an end to banditry in Nigeria’s troubled North West region.
Security analysts warn that the recent executions could disrupt any ongoing dialogue with government representatives.
“When a leader starts turning on his own men, it’s usually a sign of instability,” said a retired security officer familiar with counter-bandit operations.
“This could either weaken his group or push desperate fighters into launching more violent attacks out of fear and frustration.”
Meanwhile, residents in the affected areas have called for increased military presence along major highways and rural communities to prevent retaliatory attacks and safeguard travellers.