The Katsina state Police Command Tuesday said the bandits’ leader, Ado Aleiro, turbaned in Zamfara recently as Sarkin Fulani is still on their wanted list.
Police spokesman SP Gambo Isa disclosed this to newsmen in Katsina while reacting to the chieftaincy title recently conferred on Aleiro in Zamfara state.
The emir of Yandoton – Daji, Alhaji Aliyu Marafa, reportedly turbaned Aleiro as Sarkin Fulanin-Daji with the aim of forestalling the attacks by the armed groups in his domain.
Yandoton-Daji is one of the newly created emirates in Zamfara state.
While commenting on the development, SP Isah explained that the command had declared Aleiro wanted for crimes such as culpable homicide, terrorism, armed robbery, and kidnapping in Katsina state.
According to him, Aleiro is also wanted for the killing of over 100 residents of Kadisau village in Faskari local government area of the state.
In the month of June, the Katsina state police command declared the 47year-old Aleiro who hailed from Tsafe local government area of Zamfara state wanted, with N5 million prize for whosoever could bring him dead or alive.
Aleiro is accused to be a notorious leader of groups of bandits terrorising communities in Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara state.
In the recent attack in June, before being declared wanted by the police, Aleiro allegedly led a group of bandits to attack Kadisau village in Faskari LG area of Katsina state.
His men, numbering over 200 and armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the village on motorbikes.
At least 20 villagers were reported to have killed with many others left injured during the attack, while part of the village was set on fire.
Women, children kidnapped
In a related development, bandits Monday night kidnapped four women and their five children all of whom are members of the same family in Dutsin-ma town of Katsina state.
“The victims are the family of a wealthy man, called Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed that resides at the Shema Housing Estate in Dutsin-ma town,” a source said.
Competent sources told Blueprint in Dutsin-ma that the bandits used chemicals to break the high fence of the house to kidnap their victims.
The source disclosed that the bandits came in large numbers, riding motorcycles and heavily armed to carry out their dastardly act about 11:30pm.
“The bandits kept shooting in the air to scare away people as well as security agents from rescuing the kidnapped victims.
“The bandits have contacted the head of the family and made their demand of ransomed but the man has kept the amount secret to the public,” he said.
Contacted for comment, the state PPRO, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident, saying the police had visited the scene of the incident and were on the trail of the criminals.
