The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Army to immediately release Bello Badejo, the president of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and issue a public apology for violating his constitutional rights. The call came after a motion of urgent public importance was raised by Mansur Soro (PDP, Bauchi) during Tuesday’s plenary.
Badejo was reportedly arrested on December 9 at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa State, by officers from the 117 Battalion of the Nigerian Army. The arrest has sparked widespread concerns over the potential infringement of his fundamental human rights, with lawmakers citing violations of sections 34, 35, and 36 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
In his motion, Soro described Badejo as a “distinguished community leader” and accused the military of overstepping its role. He criticized the Army for acting beyond its constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria against external threats, while encroaching on civilian matters. Soro also suggested that Badejo’s arrest might be linked to a dispute between a retired general and the Maliya community, rather than any criminal activity.
The motion led to a unanimous vote in favor of further action. The House has now summoned the Chief of Defence Staff, Chris Musa; the Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede; and the Commanding Officer of the 117 Battalion to appear before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights, and Justice on Thursday, December 20, 2024. They are to explain why military officers under their command allegedly violated Badejo’s rights.
The controversy surrounding Badejo’s arrest comes amid broader concerns about the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a socio-cultural organization of Fulani herders. While some members have been accused of involvement in violent clashes with farmers and kidnapping activities, the group strongly denies such allegations, maintaining that it is a peaceful association of law-abiding citizens.
Badejo himself was previously arraigned in March on charges related to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, accused of forming an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya. However, it remains unclear whether the current arrest is connected to the earlier charges.
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