The Federal Government has arraigned the leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal H*re group, Bello Bodejo, for terrorism-related offence.
Bodejo was brought before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for allegedly establishing and supporting unlawfully an ethnic militia group – Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
Bodejo was arraigned on Friday on a three-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in which he was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, following which Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that he be further detained in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Justice Ekwo adjourned till May 27 for the commencement of trial.
Recall that the Miyetti Allah leader was arrested in Nasarawa State days after the organisation launched a vigilante group named, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
At the inauguration of the 1,144-man Fulani outfit on January 17, 2024, Bodejo said the move was to tackle banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of insecurity in Nasarawa State.
Following his arrest, the Miyetti Allah leader filed a fundamental rights suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge his prolonged detention.
