Court Orders Detention of Miyetti Allah President, Others Pending Investigation
A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the Defence Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) request to detain Alhaji Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, along with six others, for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigations. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion filed by DIA counsel I.O. Odom, under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1875/V/2024.
The motion sought to detain the respondents—Bodejo, Suleiman Abba, Umar Jibrin, Umar Bello, Muhammed Ayuba, Jibrin Baba, and Saidu Wakili—based on allegations of banditry and illegal arms possession. The DIA asserted that the respondents were apprehended by the Nigerian Armed Forces in Nasarawa State and brought to its custody on December 11, 2024, for further investigation.
In an affidavit by Bonny Ozegbe, a DIA investigating officer, the respondents were accused of participating in an attack on a military formation and local farmlands in Nasarawa State, resulting in injuries to military personnel and civilians, and the theft of military weapons. The affidavit further alleged that the attack was orchestrated under Bodejo’s leadership and that the respondents’ release could jeopardize national security, ongoing investigations, and future prosecutions.
The DIA also emphasized the discovery of several weapons, including AK-47 rifles, during the arrests and expressed concern over the potential for the respondents to flee or re-offend if released.
Justice Nwite, in granting the motion, acknowledged that the application was made under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. He deemed the request meritorious and ordered the detention of the respondents for 60 days, pending further investigation and prosecution. The case was adjourned until March 3, 2025, for mention.
Separately, Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court had earlier ordered Bodejo’s release from the Department of State Services’ custody, ruling his detention since December 9, 2024, without charge, unlawful. Justice Zubairu granted the order following a habeas corpus application filed by Bodejo’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo, SAN.
