The Department of State Services (DSS) has refuted claims that the president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo is in its custody.
Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the DSS, issued a brief statement on Tuesday evening in response to inquiries.
“He’s not with the DSS,” Afunanya said in reaction to Bodejo’s purported arrest at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu LGA of Nasarawa state.
It was alleged that DSS operatives, accompanied by Nigerian Army soldiers, had apprehended Bodejo at the Miyetti Allah’s Head Office, following the unveiling of a vigilante group.
The Fulani socio-cultural organization had introduced the “Nomad vigilante group” in Nasarawa the previous week.
Bodejo had stated that the vigilante group aimed to assist security agencies in combating criminal activities in the north-central state.
He said the vigilante group is made up of 1,144 Fulani youths selected from various communities in the 13 LGAs of the state.
However, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, in terse WhatsApp message to journalists, said, “Bello Bodejo is not with the DSS.”
The Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, also denied confirmation of Bodejo’s arrest. Nwachukwu stated, “I don’t have the information about his arrest.”
KanyiDaily had reported how Miyetti Allah Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi was killed by suspected bandits in Kaduna State.