The president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, has been arrested by the Nigerian Army following a confrontation between herders and a retired general in Nasarawa State, with his family accusing the military of an unlawful detention.
Bodejo’s family claims the arrest is linked to his intervention in the matter, despite no direct involvement in the incident that occurred on December 8, 2024.
According to a statement by Bodejo’s brother, Suleiman Waziri, the Miyetti Allah leader was detained on Tuesday at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa State, by officers from the 117th Battalion of the Nigerian Army.
The military action followed a dispute in Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area, where a retired general reportedly fired at a herd of cattle, causing considerable losses to the herders.
In response, the herders allegedly disarmed the general before reporting the incident to the police.
Waziri stated that his brother was not directly involved in the conflict, but his assistance was sought by the herders’ relatives who sought his help in securing the release of cattle confiscated by the military.
“This was a humanitarian effort on his part, yet he was unfairly detained without evidence linking him to any wrongdoing,” Waziri asserted.
Efforts to secure Bodejo’s release have faced numerous obstacles. Both Waziri and the family’s legal team were reportedly denied access to him at the 117th Battalion, with military authorities claiming that permission for such meetings could only be granted from higher up.
“We call on the Chief of Army Staff and other relevant authorities to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Alhaji Bello Bodejo,” Waziri demanded, adding that no evidence had been presented to justify the detention.
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The family further urged the military to allow unhindered access to Bodejo’s legal representatives, calling the arrest an act of “gross injustice.”
They also demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the events in Tudun Wada, urging that justice be served for all parties involved.
Recall that this is not the first time Bodejo has faced legal challenges.
In January 2024, he was arrested for allegedly raising an ethnic militia group, though the charges were eventually dropped in May of the same year.
