Bandit kingpin, Ado Allero has pledged commitment to peace in Katsina State following a dialogue meeting held on Sunday in Faskari Local Government Area.
The parley, described as the largest of its kind, brought together several armed groups who reportedly agreed to embrace peace and coexistence with local communities.
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Speaking during the meeting, Allero recalled his participation in earlier peace processes in the state, which he said collapsed after the arrest of his son. He claimed the arrest was unjust and led him to withdraw from the initiative.
“At that time, we were coexisting peacefully with security agencies and authorities. I followed up on the matter from Faskari, the state level, and even to the Federal level. In the end, I found out my son was being held without reason. That was why I denounced the peace process and resumed hostility,” he said.
He maintained that the latest dialogue was the most significant, as it was the first time such a large number of bandits came forward openly. He expressed confidence that the outcome would help sustain peace not only in Faskari but across the country.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including community leaders and security representatives, however, cautioned that past peace initiatives in Katsina often collapsed when some bandits who embraced dialogue locally continued violent activities in other states.
They stressed the need for sincerity and long-term commitment to end banditry in the region.