Security personnel arrests Miyetti Allah’s president for setting up vigilante group
By Faith Awa Maji
The Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, over the creation of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State.
Bodejo was arrested on Tuesday at the Miyetti Allah’s Head Office, Tundun Maliya Cattle Market, Kilometre 22, Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Tundun-Wada, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The DSS operatives alongside some soldiers of the Nigerian Army, were said to have stormed the Miyetti Allah’s Head Office close to Goshen Church, at about 3:40 pm on Tuesday, as they drove off after arresting Bodejo at the gate.
A DSS source who confirmed the arrest to our correspondent revealed that Bodejo was arrested over fears that the creation of the Nomad’s Vigilante Group could cause violence across the country.
He added that the group was not registered with the DSS, the police, or any other security agency, hence it is not recognised 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.”
When contacted over the development, the DSS’ spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, did not respond to phone calls and text messages by our correspondent.
FMBlog: Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association has inaugurated what it describes as Nomad vigilance group to complement efforts of conventional security agencies in checking criminal activities in the area.
Speaking at the inauguration on Wednesday in Lafia, Bello Bodejo, National President of the association said that the formation of the group became imperative given the increasing security challenges in the country.
He said that the first batch of the vigilance corps comprised 1144 Fulani youths from various communities in the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa State.
He noted that the profiling of other interested persons was ongoing as they have a target to recruit up to 4000 youths for proper coverage of all Fulani communities.
He also promised that the group would assist in fishing out all criminal elements among the Fulani people and hand them over to the security agencies for necessary action.
Bodejo explained that the vigilance group was to complement efforts of the conventional security agencies in intelligence gathering and surveillance with a view of tackling kidnapping and banditry among others criminal acts.
He said, “every ethnic group has criminal elements among them, so if a Fulani man or woman commits a crime, they should be treated as criminals just like others.”
He promised to inaugurate similar groups in other states of the federation.
Addressing the group, Umar Nadada, Commissioner of Police (CP) in the State, lauded them for the initiative and said that the formation was apt given the security challenges in the state and county.
The CP said that the police was ready to work with all groups interested in the security of lives and property in the country.
He however, urged them to always inform the security agencies about anything suspicious in their respective areas for prompt action.
Nadada advised them not to take the law in their hands, but cooperate with the security agencies for proper security in the State.
CP Nadada also said that the Nomad Vigilante were not allow to use fire arms during their operations.
The inauguration had in attendance representatives of the Nigeria Army and other security agencies.
