The federal government is accusing the leader of the Miyetti Allah, Bello Bodejo, of forming an unlawful ethnic militia.
Authorities say the creation of the nomadic vigilante group is a threat to “national security and public safety.”
Bodejo was arrested seven days after launching the group on 17 January in Nasarawa State capital, Lafia.
He had said during the ceremony that the group would aid the police and the military in tackling mass abduction of citizens for ransom and murderous invasions of communities in Nasarawa, from where it would spread to other states in the country.
Representatives of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Army reportedly attended the event to show support. But Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule disowned the “illegal group.”
“The state government has no prior knowledge of the formation of the outfit. This administration would not support any illegal group in the state,” Governor Sule had said.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi says the unauthorised establishment of the militia group is “punishable under Section of 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022” in the lawsuit against Bodejo filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja on 13 March.
Meanwhile, the prolonged detention of their leader has provoked a protest by members of Miyetti Allah for his unconditional release.
“You cannot arbitrarily arrest an individual without proper charge and arraign him in court. That is why we have gathered our members across the country to come here to agitate and also make our voice heard,” Kabir Matazu told the press during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The Nigerian security agencies should, without further delay, free and release him unconditionally.”
Bodejo is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency.
