Bodejo was reportedly arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the union’s head office, Tundun Maliya Cattle Market, Kilometre 22, Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Tundun-Wada, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo has reportedly been arrested by Nigeria’s secret police.
Bodejo was reportedly arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the union’s head office, Tundun Maliya Cattle Market, Kilometre 22, Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Tundun-Wada, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The herders’ union president was said to have been arrested by the DSS on Tuesday for allegedly creating a vigilante group unlawfully and without the approval of the security agencies, according to The PUNCH.
It was learned that the DSS operatives alongside some soldiers of the Nigerian Army stormed the Miyetti Allah’s head office close to Goshen Church, at about 3:40 pm on Tuesday and took away Bodejo.
A DSS source quoted by The PUNCH said that Bodejo was arrested over fears that the creation of the Nomad’s Vigilante Group could worsen the security situation in Nigeria.
He further stated that the group was not registered with the DSS, the police, or any other security agency, therefore it was not acknowledged by the Federal Government.
The source said, “Our (DSS) operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army stormed the Miyetti Allah’s Head Office in Nasarawa this afternoon, and we’ve arrested their National President, Bello Bodejo, for creating a vigilante group that is not recognised by the government.
“The creation of that nomad’s vigilante group could cause violence in the country. The group was not registered with the DSS, the police, or any other security agency, and the group is not recognised by the Federal Government.”
But when contacted by SaharaReporters, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhassan Saleh said Bodejo was not arrested but was only invited by the Nigerian Army.
He said that the invitation did not have anything to do with the vigilante group, adding that the group was created in accordance with the law and with the permission of security agencies in the country.
“That is not true. The vigilante group is truly registered. It was an invitation by the commander of the 117 Battalion, Keffi. It had nothing to do with the vigilante group,” Alhassan told SaharaReporters on the telephone.
He continued: “I think there was a petition that emanated from the DPO, alleging issues that have to do with some land issues, maybe some movement on grains, that he was buying grains and distributing it, so he was invited to make some clarifications.
“There is no cause for alarm. The vigilante group has the full support of the security agencies. It is duly registered by the CAC and then… after screening and recruitment of volunteers. We now launched the first batch just to complement the activities of conventional security agents.”
However, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, in terse WhatsApp message to journalists, said, “Bello Bodejo is not with the DSS.”
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