Claim: A Facebook page, Hausaland Magazine, shared a picture of notorious bandit leader Adamu Aleru and claimed that he is the Sarki of the Fulani ethnic group in Zamfara State.
Verdict: True. Adamu Aleru was conferred the traditional title of Sarkin Fulani in July 2022 under the Yandoto Daji Emirate in Zamfara State, as part of peace-building efforts involving communities affected by banditry.
Full Text
A Facebook page, Hausaland Magazine, shared the picture of an alleged terrorist and claimed that he is the Sarki, or leader, of the Fulani ethnic group in Zamfara State.
The caption reads, “Terrible; This is a wanted terrorist but at the same time the Sarki of the Fulani ethnic group in Zamfara. Are we cursed?”
The claim (archived here) has generated reactions on social media, with some users expressing concern over the traditional title reportedly conferred on Aleru.
Ndidi Chukwuma Chukwuka commented, “We are the cause; we are not cursed.”
Another Facebook user, Malam Naziru Dalha, wrote that the Fulani were “cursed and doomed” and expressed relief that the man was not considered a leader by Hausa people.
DUBAWA investigated the claim to establish whether Ado Aleru was indeed conferred a traditional title, who granted it, and the current status of that recognition.
Verification
DUBAWA identified the person shown in the Facebook post as Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit leader associated with Zamfara State.
We then conducted a Google search to determine whether Ado Aleru was conferred a traditional title, as claimed. The result confirmed that Aleru was turbaned as Sarkin Fulani of Yandoto Daji Emirate in July 2022.
Channels Television reported that Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit leader in Zamfara State, was turbaned Sarkin Fulani of Yandoto Emirate by the Emir of Yandoto Daji, Aliyu Marafa. The report stated that the ceremony took place on Jul. 16, 2022.
Similarly, HumAngle reported that the Emir of Yandoto Daji conferred the title of Sarkin Fulanin Yandoton Daji on Aleru, with the emir stating that the appointment and subsequent turbaning were connected to peace and reconciliation efforts within the emirate.
Premium Times also reported that the emir declared Aleru as the new Sarkin Fulanin Yandoton Daji “in accordance with the cultural requirements of the Emirate.”
The conferment of the title generated public outrage because Aleru was a wanted bandit leader accused by security agencies of involvement in violent crimes. The Katsina State Police Command had previously declared him wanted over alleged offences including terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping and culpable homicide.
Following the controversy, the Zamfara State Government suspended the Emir of Yandoto Daji and constituted a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the conferment of the title. However, the investigation did not result in the cancellation of the traditional title. In April 2023, the Zamfara State Government reinstated the Emir of Yandoto, Aliyu Marafa, after a committee reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing or collaboration between the emir and Aleru.
The government said the conferment was part of peace-building efforts between the emirate and communities affected by banditry.
DUBAWA found no evidence that the emirate’s state government revoked the title. However, the Zamfara State government has banned traditional rulers in the state from awarding chieftaincy titles without getting government approval.
Conclusion
The claim that Adamu Aleru was made Sarkin Fulani in Zamfara State is true. Available evidence confirms that Aleru was turbaned as Sarkin Fulani of Yandoto Daji Emirate in July 2022 by Emir Aliyu Marafa as part of peace-building efforts involving communities affected by banditry.
This fellowship is implemented by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) with support from the European Union.