The family of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore President, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, has urged the military to secure his immediate release, accusing the Nigerian Army of violating his human rights through what they described as “illegal detention.”
Bodejo was reportedly arrested on December 9 by soldiers of the 117 Guards’ Battalion in Keffi, Nasarawa State. According to his brother, Suleman Waziri, the arrest is connected to an incident on December 8 involving a retired General of the Nigerian Army and herders in Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
Waziri explained to journalists in Abuja that the General allegedly fired at a herd of cattle, resulting in significant losses for the herders. In self-defense, the herders disarmed the General and reported the incident to the police. Waziri emphasized that Bodejo had no involvement in the matter but was later detained.
“Despite having no connection or involvement with this incident, Alhaji Bello Bodejo was arrested on the 9th of December 2024 at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa State, in a commando-style operation carried out by the 117 Battalion. His arrest is wholly unwarranted and appears to be based on unfounded allegations,” Waziri stated.
He further explained that Bodejo’s only involvement was a humanitarian effort to mediate after relatives of the herders approached him on December 9. “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.”
Waziri criticized the denial of access to Bodejo by both family members and legal representatives. “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.’ This denial is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights to liberty, dignity, and legal representation.”
When contacted, Lt. Olokodana Odunayo, acting Public Relations Officer of the Guards’ Brigade, confirmed Bodejo’s arrest but stated he had been transferred to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for further investigation. “According to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 117 Guards’ Battalion the man has been forwarded to DIA,” she said, declining further comment.
The family continues to demand justice, insisting that Bodejo’s detention lacks legal justification and infringes on his rights.
