House of Reps Demands Release of Miyetti Allah President, Summons Military Chiefs

The House of Representatives has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oloyede, to release the President of Miyetti Allah, Bello Badejo, from what it described as unlawful detention. The lawmakers also instructed the military to issue an apology to Badejo for infringing on his constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental human rights.

This resolution followed a motion moved during plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Mansur Soro. According to Soro, Badejo was arrested on December 9, 2024, in Maliya town, Nasarawa State, in a “commando-style operation” conducted by officers of the 177 Battalion of the Nigerian Army. The arrest, Soro explained, was carried out without a prior invitation or court injunction and is believed to stem from a dispute involving a retired military general and some members of the Maliya community.

The House expressed concern that over a week after the arrest, Badejo had yet to be arraigned before a competent court, contrary to the provisions of Nigerian law. Soro described the continued detention as a violation of Sections 34, 35, and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which protect citizens’ fundamental human rights.

In response, the House condemned the actions of the 177 Battalion, accusing the officers of overstepping their roles by interfering in a matter that should be handled by the police and the courts. It summoned General Musa, Lieutenant General Oloyede, and the Commanding Officer of the 177 Battalion to appear before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights, and Justice on Thursday, December 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. to explain the conduct of their subordinates.