Nigerians are outraged at the installation of a wanted terrorist, Ado Aleru (Alieru), as the Sarkin Fulani (King of the Fulanis) of Yandoton Daji Emirate in troubled Zamfara state.
Critics, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accuse the government of rationalising insecurity.
As the majority of respondents express outrage, social media users are tagging police and military accounts to draw their attention.
On Twitter, @pdauda wrote: “This administration’s lack of state capacity and tacit support for non-state actors will empower these groups amass so much influence that they will moot power sharing in future.”
@el_bonga: “When we are already to end banditry, our leaders know what to do. We have gone from giving bandits millions in the name of amnesty to giving them traditional titles in broad daylight.”
Reacting, a tweep @sadiqanc seemed to have endorsed the enthroning, saying: “The government couldn’t do anything that’s why they made peace with them. Nothing more important than peace.”
@Jobisamson replied: “The govt chose to do nothing because apparently those in helm of affairs are sympathizers. I don’t want to believe these elements can overpower state security forces.”
@Emeka_rfst: “Peace is in the presence of justice, not in the absence of violence. They have just crowned a rogue leader and for what would come next, I don’t want to imagine”
The bandit leader, real name Adamu Aliero, was turbaned on Saturday by Aliyu Garba Marafa, the first Emir of Yandoto.
Marafa announced Aleru as “the new Sarkin Fulanin Yandoton Daji in accordance with the cultural requirements of the Emirate”.
The appointment, he explained, agrees “with the demand for peace and reconciliation efforts highly needed for our people in our Emirate, Tsafe local government area, Zamfara and Nigeria”.
Twitter user, Abdul Balarabe shared photos from the event. The images showed many people in attendance.
Another user replied with a video of attendees returning from the ceremony in a motorcycle convoy.
According to reports, the coronation of Aleru, 47, was decided as part of efforts to appease him in order to achieve peace in the state.
The bandit leader oversaw killings, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in Tsafe and across Zamfara and Katsina states.
Following the attacks, the federal government launched an investigation into the outlaw known as Yankuzo.
Sanusi Buba, the Commissioner of Police in Katsina, declared him wanted “dead or alive” in June 2020, with a N5 million reward.
This was a follow-up operation to the Kadisau village attack, in which bandits killed over 20 people.
The chief informed the public that two bandits, Bello Usman and Usman Sule, were apprehended during the raids.
The police said Usman confessed to having participated in the invasions and killings at Kadisau village of Faskari and others at Musawa, Matazu, Karaduwa, and Yantumaki.
“The suspect stated that the attack was masterminded by a notorious kingpin of bandits, Adamu Aliero Yankuzo, in protest of the arrest of his son, Suleiman Adamu Aliero, 24″, Buba disclosed.
According to reports, security agencies in January confirmed that a kidnap incident was perpetrated by Aleru and footsoldiers.
Zamfara Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah said operatives deployed to Tsafe stormed Kunchin Kalgo forest and rescued 29 captives.
The CP revealed that the victims held for more than 60 days were from three villages – Adarawa, Gana, and Bayawuri – in Rijiya district of Gusau local government area.
The hostages included 25 females, among them pregnant and nursing mothers, plus four male children, Elkanah added.