One of Nigeria’s most wanted bandit leaders, Ado Aleru, has reportedly killed seven of his own fighters in Zamfara State over suspicions of betrayal and unauthorized operations.

According to reporting by The Guardian, the executions occurred across several villages, including Takulawa, Turba, Bamamu, and the Yamma forest region.

Sources familiar with the incident told The Guardian that Aleru accused the slain fighters of conducting unsanctioned kidnappings along the Gusau–Yankara highway, a move he believed jeopardized his control and risked attracting intensified security operations. After confirming their involvement, Aleru allegedly carried out the killings himself.

Security analysts such as Zagazola Makama, who monitors insurgency trends in the Lake Chad region, had earlier confirmed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the internal purge has triggered panic among Aleru’s remaining loyalists.

Aleru has long been on the federal government’s list of wanted individuals, facing accusations of orchestrating mass kidnappings, killings, and cattle rustling across Zamfara, Katsina, and parts of Sokoto States. Despite his criminal record, he has reportedly participated in peace talks with government representatives aimed at curbing banditry in the North West.

Observers from the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) say the incident underscores the volatility within armed groups and raises questions about the credibility of ongoing negotiations with bandit leaders. The internal executions may signal a breakdown in discipline and growing mistrust within Aleru’s camp.