Dons Eze
ARMY ARRESTS, DETAINS MIYETTI ALLAH PRESIDENT, FAMILY ALLEGES
The family of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has raised the alarm over the arrest and detention of Badejo by men of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement, Suleiman Waziri, Bodejo’s brother, said the Miyetti Allah leader was arrested on Tuesday at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa state by officers of the 117 battalion of the Nigerian Army.
Waziri said Bodejo was arrested over an incident involving some herders and a retired army general in the Tudun Wada area of Nasarawa.
“On the 8th of December 2024, an incident occurred at Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, involving a retired general of the Nigerian Army,” Waziri said.
“The general reportedly discharged firearms at a herd of cattle, causing significant losses for the herders.
“Acting in self-defense, the herders disarmed the general and reported the matter to the police.”
Waziri said his brother was not involved in the incident that occurred between the herders and the retired general.
“My brother’s only involvement in this matter arose when relatives of the herders approached him earlier on the morning of 9th December 2024, pleading for his intervention as a respected leader to help secure the release of their confiscated cattle.
“This was purely a humanitarian effort on his part, yet he was unfairly detained without evidence linking him to the events in Tudun Wada.
“Efforts by our legal representatives to meet with Alhaji Bello Bodejo have been stonewalled.
“On visiting the 117 Battalion, both I and his legal counsel were denied access to him.
“The commanding officer claimed that permission to see him could only come from ‘above’.
Waziri said the “unlawful” arrest of Bodejo is a “gross injustice,” while calling on the military authorities to release the Miyetti Allah leader.
“We call on the chief of army staff and other relevant authorities to order the immediate and unconditional release of Alhaji Bello Bodejo, as no evidence has been presented linking him to any wrongdoing.
“Direct the 117 Battalion to grant his legal representatives unhindered access to him.
“Ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident at Tudun Wada to establish the facts and ensure justice for all parties involved.”
PREVIOUS ARREST
On January 23, Bodejo was arrested at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu LGA of Nasarawa state for unveiling a vigilante group.
Bodejo had said the “nomad vigilante group” would assist security agencies in combatting crime in the north-central state.
But the federal government accused Bodejo of raising an armed militia to the detriment of the nation’s unity.
On February 5, the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) filed a motion ex parte, seeking to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.
The court approved the request to remand him for 15 days in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
On February 22, a federal high court in Abuja ordered the federal government to file a charge against Bodejo within seven days.
In March, he was arraigned before the federal high court in Abuja on a three-count charge bordering on the alleged establishment of an ethnic militia.
The Fulani leader pleaded not guilty to the charge.
On May 29, the court discharged Bodejo of the alleged terrorism charge filed against him.
Inyang Ekwo, the trial judge, discharged Bodejo after Aderonke Imana, counsel to the AGF, moved an oral application for the withdrawal of the charge.
