Family Alleges Gross Injustice, Urges Nigerian Army to Grant Access and Ensure Immediate Release of Miyetti Allah Leader Amid Controversial Detention
The family of Alhaji Bello Bodejo, the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has called for his immediate release following his arrest by officers of the Nigerian Army’s 117 Battalion.
According to Suleiman Waziri, Bodejo’s brother, the arrest occurred on Tuesday at Bodejo’s office in Maliya, Nasarawa State. The military reportedly detained the Fulani leader over an incident involving herders and a retired army general in the Tudun Wada area of Karu Local Government Area.
Waziri recounted the events leading to the arrest, alleging that on December 8, 2024, the retired general discharged firearms at a herd of cattle, resulting in significant losses for the herders. The herders reportedly disarmed the general and alerted the police.
“My brother was not involved in this incident,” Waziri stated. “His only connection was when the herders’ families approached him on December 9, seeking his intervention to retrieve their confiscated cattle. This was a purely humanitarian effort.”
Waziri lamented that all efforts by the family and Bodejo’s legal representatives to meet with him have been blocked by the army.
“We were told access to him could only be granted from ‘above.’ This is a clear case of injustice,” he said.
The family has urged military authorities, including the Chief of Army Staff, to release Bodejo and ensure a fair investigation into the Tudun Wada incident.
Controversial Past: Bodejo’s Previous Arrest
This isn’t the first time Bello Bodejo has clashed with authorities. On January 23, 2024, he was arrested in Karu, Nasarawa State, after unveiling a “Nomad Vigilante Group” to assist security forces in tackling crime.
The federal government accused him of forming an ethnic militia and moved to detain him. Although initially held by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and arraigned in court on charges of establishing an ethnic militia, Bodejo was discharged in May 2024.
Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the terrorism charges after the Attorney-General’s counsel withdrew the case.
Family’s Plea for Justice
Waziri emphasized that Bodejo’s arrest is unwarranted, calling it “a gross injustice.” He urged authorities to release his brother unconditionally and investigate the Tudun Wada incident without bias.
“We demand justice for all parties involved and unhindered access for his legal representatives,” Waziri said.
The arrest has sparked renewed discussions about the treatment of ethnic leaders and the role of security forces in managing conflicts in Nigeria.
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