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The Nigerian Army has been accused of breaching human rights with the “illegal” detention of the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo.
Badejo was allegedly arrested and detained by soldiers of 117 Guards’ Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on December 9.
Badejo’s brother, Suleman Waziri who made the incident known in a statement on Tuesday stated that his brother’s “illegal” detention was connected to an incident that occured on December 8 between a retired General of the Nigerian Army and herders at Tudun Wada in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Waziri said: “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.
“Despite having no connection or involvement with this incident, Alhaji Bello Badejo was arrested on the 9th of December 2024 at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa State, in a commando-style operation carried out by the 117 Battalion. His arrest is wholly unwarranted and appears to be based on unfounded allegations.
“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 Badejo 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.” This denial is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights to liberty, dignity, and legal representation.”
Waziri empathized that the continued detention of his brother without formal charges or court proceedings violates his fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He also said that Badejo’s denial of access to his legal representatives was an additional breach of his right to fair hearing and legal defense.
Waziri, however, urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to “Order the immediate and unconditional release of Alhaji Bello Badejo, direct the 117 Battalion to grant his legal representatives unhindered access to him, and ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident at Tudun Wada to establish the facts and ensure justice for all parties involved.”
When contacted, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Guards’ Brigade, Lt. Olokodana Odunayo who was initially not aware of the development upon findings told journalists that Alhaji Bello Badejo has been transferred to Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for further investigation.
She said: “ According to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 177 Guards’ Battalion the man has been forwarded to DIA.”