The Nigerian Army has arrested Bello Bodejo, the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
He was arrested following a conflict involving herders and a retired general in Nasarawa State, The Cable reports.
The arrest took place at his office in Maliya, with soldiers from the 117 Battalion detaining him in connection to the incident.
The clash reportedly began when the retired general fired at a herd of cattle in Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area, causing losses for the herders.
In response, the herders disarmed the general and reported the matter to the police.
Bodejo’s family revealed that his involvement was limited to assisting the herders in recovering their confiscated cattle.
Suleiman Waziri, Bodejo’s brother, said in a statement;
“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.
“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.”
“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’.
“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.”
The Nigerian Army is yet to comment on the matter.
