The Federal Government has recently brought charges, with terrorism implications, against Bello Bodejo, the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. Bodejo has been held in custody by the Defense Intelligence Agency since his arrest on January 23.
His apprehension came shortly after the establishment of a vigilante group called Kungiya Zaman Lafiya by Miyetti Allah in Nasarawa State. This initiative, according to Bodejo, aimed to address issues such as banditry, cattle rustling, and general insecurity in the region.
In response to his prolonged detention, Bodejo filed a fundamental rights suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja. Subsequently, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion seeking to keep Bodejo in custody pending further investigation and court proceedings.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the case, granted the Federal Government's request to detain Bodejo for 15 days. The judge later ordered the government to either charge him or release him.
During a recent court session, the judge questioned the prosecution about the filing of charges against Bodejo, to which they responded that it had been done the previous day. However, the charge was not presented before the judge at that time.
The charge sheet, viewed by our correspondent, accuses Bodejo of establishing an unauthorized ethnic militia group, which the government contends poses a threat to national security and public safety, citing Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Bodejo's legal counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, requested bail for his client pending arraignment. The prosecution opposed this request on grounds of national security concerns.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the hearing until March 22 to rule on Bodejo's bail application.
Meanwhile, supporters of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore gathered outside the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding Bodejo's unconditional release. They criticized the DIA for failing to comply with court orders regarding his trial or release.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Kabir Matazu emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law in a democratic society. He highlighted the absence of criminal records for Bodejo and the lack of access his family and friends have had to him since his arrest.
Matazu urged the Nigerian security agencies to focus their efforts on combating actual threats like bandits in the forests rather than arbitrarily detaining individuals without proper legal recourse.
