Analyst Says Bodejo Undermining Nigerian State
By Mike Odeh James
(Kaduna) Cattle Industry kingpin Bello Bodejo has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government, accusing it of “unlawful” detention. Bodejo is the public face of the controversial Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani-tribe advocacy group. Bodejo’s family announced the lawsuit on December 19, 2024.
According to court documents, Bodejo’s wife, Hauwa Bodejo alleged that her husband was subjected to “inhuman treatment” and denied access to his medication while in detention.
Bodejo was arrested on December 9, 2024, at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa State, by officers of the 117 Battalion of the Nigerian Army. Bodejo’s wife claims that Bodejo’s arrest is linked to an incident involving herders and a retired Naval Officer, Dan Gwari, in Tudun Wada, Karu County.
According to Hauwa, the clash happened on December 8, 2024 in Shuwari village in Karu County, when Gwari allegedly fired gunshots at the herders, killing four cows. The Fulani herders retaliated, and Gwari sustained machete cuts during a struggle and was disarmed.
Hauwa recounted that the Fulani elders took Gwari to a hospital and covered his bills after which he was discharged. However, Gwari later mobilised soldiers to arrest some Fulani boys, seized 400 cows, and detained Bodejo, who was away at the time of the incident.
Bodejo’s only involvement in the matter was a humanitarian effort to help secure the release of confiscated cattle, Hauwa Bodejo said. “Bodejo’s only involvement in the matter was a humanitarian effort to help secure the release of confiscated cattle”
“However, after he was arrested, they took him directly to Abuja, she said.
The lawsuit demands Bodejo’s immediate release and an investigation into his detention.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge Over Bodejo’s Arrest
Residents of Tudun Wada have given a different version of events surrounding the arrest of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, not to be confused with MACBAN, a cattle breeders’ association.
According to Emmanuel Habu, a small-scale farmer in Shuwari “those cattle rearers are not just cattle rearers but Fulani ethnic militia who would use the excuse of grazing to encroach on farmlands belonging to the local people.”
Habu also stated that the Fulani cattle rearers “would destroy nearly all the crops that we have suffered to cultivate, and if you complain, they would either attack you or ignore you and continue.”
Regarding the incident that led to Bodejo’s arrest, Habu said, “What happened that day was that a group of Fulani cattle rearers (in fact, terrorists) directed their cattle to the farm land owned by a retired general and destroyed the crop.”
Habu also disputed claims that the retired General shot at the cattle or Fulani herdsmen, saying, “I am sure that the general did not shoot at the cattle or Fulani herdsmen.”
Habu further said that Bodejo’s arrest may be connected to his alleged involvement with the Fulani herdsmen, saying, “Most of the Fulanis in Tudun Wada, Shuwari and the whole county were brought in by Bodejo and are under his protection.”
Angbashim Joshua, a yam farmer in Shuwari, also spoke against the Fulani herders led by the president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. Joshua alleged that the herders have been terrorizing farmers and traders in Shuwari and other counties in Nasarawa state since 2018.
“It is either our farmlands are destroyed, our younger ones beaten up and the rest intimidated by the so-called Fulani herders,” Joshua said.
He questioned the actions of the herders, asking, “How can Fulani herders go to a farm and destroy all the crops and then beat up the owner of the farm, inflicting injuries on him and seizing his weapon?”
Joshua further alleged that the herders are not actually herders but rather Fulani Ethnic Militia members who have been terrorizing local communities for years. “Those herders are not actually herders but Fulani Ethnic Militia members who have been terrorising our people for years,” he added.
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Behaving Like Hezbollah Militia
David Onyilokwu Idah, a Director of International Human Rights Commission, has condemned the actions of Fulanis linked to Bodejo, stating that disarming a retired senior military officer and inflicting injuries on him is an act of terrorism.
“It is only terrorists that would have the guts to disarm a military (retired or serving) personnel,” Idah said in an interview with TruthNigeria
Idah also revealed that Bodejo was arrested earlier in the year for setting up a Fulani Ethnic Militia group to protect Fulani interests. “Don’t forget, Bodejo has been arrested early this year for setting up Fulani Ethnic Militia group in order to protect Fulani interest,” he said.
“That group is behaving like a state within a state, It disregarded laws made by sovereigns, and it’s members behave as if they are above the law. It is only in Lebanon and Sudan that we see such impunity by groups and its’ members, he added.
History of Instigating Fulanis Against State Governors
In 2021, governors from Southern Nigeria decided to ban open grazing to end the criminality perpetuated by Fulani kidnappers, according to Idah. However, Bodejo opposed the decision, saying “if the governors wanted peace, they should call the Fulanis for a meeting or else the ban won’t work.”
Bodejo also instructed Fulani herdsmen to disregard the ban on open grazing imposed by the Southern Governors Forum, according to Idah.
Additionally, Idah accused Bodejo of ridiculing the former Governor of Benue State for implementing anti-open grazing laws in the state, saying “Fulanis would not obey the laws.”
According to him, Bodejo and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore were working behind the scenes to undermine the Nigerian state, and it led to the creation of the militia group by Bello.
Mike Odeh James is a Conflict Reporter for TruthNigeria.
