Miyetti Allah members protest at federal high court, demand release of leader

Members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural group, on Wednesday staged a protest at the federal high court in Abuja, demanding the release of Bello Bodejo, leader of the group.

The protesters converged on the court’s entrance, while wielding a big banner with the inscription “Free Bello Bodejo”.

Other members of the group also carried placards which read “DIA, Free Bodejo Now”, and “Release Bodejo”.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Kabir Matazu said Bodejo’s “arrest and detention is unlawful”.

“You cannot arbitrarily arrest an individual without proper charge and arraign him in court. That is why we have gathered our members across the country to come here to agitate and also make our voice heard,” NAN quoted Matazu as saying.

“We call on the Nigerian security agencies to, without further delay, free and release unconditionally Bello Bodejo, the president of Miyetti Allah.”

THE CASE AGAINST BODEJO

On February 5, the federal government in a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/141/2024, sought an order to remand Bodejo, the sole respondent, who is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), pending conclusion of investigation and arraignment in court.

The motion was filed by M.B. Abubakar, director of public prosecution of the federation in the office of the attorney-general the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.

An affidavit deposed to by Noma Wando, a litigation officer in the ministry of justice, stated that Bodejo was arrested on January 23 in Malia, Nasarawa state, and that he is in the custody of the DIA.

Wando said Bodejo’s arrest was predicated on the alleged creation of an armed militia, which goes against the nation’s unity tenets, and which is contrary to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

He added that the Miyetti Allah leader is being investigated for offences which constitute threat to national security under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

On March 5, Inyang Ekwo, a judge at the federal high court, fixed Wednesday for the hearing of Bodejo’s motion on notice, seeking his unconditional release from DIA’s custody.

On February 22, Ekwo gave the federal government seven days to file its charge against Bodejo.

The judge gave the order following the expiration of the earlier order granted to the office of the AGF, to remand Bodejo for 15 days in the custody of DIA, pending conclusion of his investigation.

In January, Bodejo unveiled a vigilante group in Nasarawa state.

The Miyetti Allah president, during the inauguration of the group, said the “Nomad vigilante group” will assist security agencies in combatting criminal activities in the state.

He said the vigilante group was made up of 1,144 Fulani youths selected from various communities in the 13 LGAs of the state.