A 75-year-old Islamic cleric, Alhaji Lambo Ilela, has been arrested in Zamfara State for allegedly offering spiritual support to bandits over a period of six years. The arrest was made by a local vigilante group following a series of investigations into criminal activities across the region, which has long been plagued by banditry.
The cleric, during interrogation, confessed to providing spiritual backing to bandits involved in violent crimes, including cattle rustling and deadly attacks on local communities. His confessions have sent shockwaves through the region, where insecurity continues to rise, with authorities scrambling for solutions.
“I am Alhaji Lambo Ilela, and I will tell the Zamfara Local Community Watch group what I am involved in. I was arrested for offering spiritual support to the bandits,” Ilela admitted during questioning. “I have been offering spiritual support to the bandits for almost six years. The first group I supported consisted of nine gang leaders. Among them is Sani Gurugu, who leads several gangs that operate in Safana,” he added.
Ilela’s arrest follows a joint effort by local vigilante groups and security forces to crack down on banditry in Zamfara and neighboring Katsina states. These two states have become notorious for harboring criminal elements who terrorize rural communities, with reports of kidnappings, killings, and mass cattle theft.
According to Ilela’s account, his first encounter with bandits was nearly six years ago when he began assisting a group of notorious gang leaders, including the infamous Sani Gurugu. Gurugu is well-known for leading several gangs in the region, responsible for countless attacks on villages in both Zamfara and Katsina States.
The cleric revealed that he provided spiritual fortifications to bandit groups in exchange for substantial sums of money, which he used to sustain himself and his family. One of his most significant payments came from Gurugu, who allegedly paid him N1.3 million for his services. This sum was divided over multiple transactions, with Ilela receiving N500,000 before an attack on Dan-Sadau and another N800,000 after the operation was deemed successful.
“I fortified them before they went to attack Dan-Sadau in Zamfara State. When they returned, Sani Gurugu gave me N800,000. The operation was successful. During the operation, they did not kidnap anyone, but they rustled cows and other animals,” Ilela explained.
However, not all of Ilela’s spiritual services were as successful. He shared how his failures to properly fortify bandit groups resulted in disastrous operations that led to the loss of lives. In one instance, after a failed attack in Faskari, Gurugu allegedly blamed Ilela for not providing adequate spiritual protection. Several bandits were reportedly killed by security forces in that operation.
Ilela’s arrest is part of a growing effort by local vigilante groups in Zamfara to combat the increasing threat of banditry. In a region where security forces have struggled to keep up with the waves of attacks, these community-led groups have taken matters into their own hands, often working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
In recent months, the local watch groups have focused on rooting out bandit sympathizers and collaborators, including informants and spiritual supporters. It is believed that individuals like Ilela have played a crucial role in enabling the continued success of bandit groups by offering them a belief in supernatural protection, which may bolster their confidence and resilience during raids.
A video posted on social media by renowned security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama showed members of the vigilante group handing Ilela over to security forces for further interrogation and investigation. This video has since gone viral, further sparking discussions on the role of spiritual leaders in perpetuating violence in the region.
Zamfara and Katsina States have been at the center of Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against banditry. Bandit groups, often armed with sophisticated weapons, have carried out raids on villages, terrorizing local populations. The attacks frequently involve cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, and indiscriminate killings.
The situation has worsened over the years, with both states becoming key strongholds for bandits. The towns of Safana in Katsina and Faskari, located on the border between Katsina and Zamfara, have become known as bases for criminal operations. These areas are strategic for bandits who use the routes between the two states to launch attacks on surrounding villages.
Local security forces, despite their best efforts, have struggled to fully secure these areas due to a lack of resources and manpower. As a result, vigilante groups have grown in importance as the main defenders of their communities.
