Bandits’ Leader Ado Allero Slaughters Traditional Ruler, Abducts 40 Zamfara Residents Despite “Peace Deal”

The fragile peace deal between the Zamfara State Government and notorious bandit leader, Ado Allero, has once again collapsed after a fresh wave of violence rocked the state. Residents are in shock following the brutal killing of a traditional ruler and the abduction of at least 40 villagers in yet another show of defiance by the armed gang.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack occurred late Sunday night in Gora community of Maru Local Government Area. Heavily armed bandits stormed the village on motorcycles, shooting sporadically to instill fear before invading the residence of the traditional ruler. The monarch was reportedly slaughtered in the presence of his family members after he allegedly resisted attempts to abduct him.

Villagers said the bandits proceeded to round up scores of residents, mostly women and children, and forcefully marched them into the forest. Survivors recounted the horrifying scene, describing how families were torn apart as loved ones were dragged away at gunpoint.

This incident comes just months after Ado Allero, once declared wanted by security agencies, was controversially granted amnesty and invited to a government-sponsored peace dialogue in Zamfara. Critics of the deal had warned that negotiating with bandits would embolden them rather than bring lasting peace. The latest attack appears to confirm those fears, raising fresh questions about the state government’s strategy in tackling insecurity.

Local sources disclosed that the bandits demanded fresh levies from villagers, threatening more violence if communities failed to comply. Security operatives were said to have arrived hours after the attack, by which time the bandits had already retreated into their hideouts with their captives.

The Zamfara State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement, but sources within security circles confirmed that operations are ongoing to track the bandits and rescue the abductees. Meanwhile, residents are appealing to the federal government to intervene urgently, as rural communities remain under constant siege.

Human rights groups have condemned the gruesome killing of the traditional ruler, describing it as an attack not just on a person, but on the cultural and social fabric of Zamfara communities. Many fear that unless decisive action is taken, the cycle of violence will continue, leaving more families devastated.

For now, the people of Zamfara remain trapped between fragile promises of peace and the harsh reality of living at the mercy of armed bandit leaders who appear to operate with little restraint.