Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested Bello Bodejo in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, shortly after he announced his ambition to contest for the Taraba Central Senatorial seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

 

According to reports, Bodejo arrived in Jalingo on Thursday afternoon aboard a private jet that landed at Danbaba Suntai Airport around 1:20 p.m., where he was welcomed by a large crowd of supporters from the five local government areas within the senatorial district.

 

Sources said the Miyetti Allah leader was later taken into custody Thursday night after visiting several security offices with members of his political team.

 

His aide, identified as Umar, explained that the arrest took place at one of the security facilities shortly after Bodejo addressed supporters at the APC state secretariat in Jalingo.

 

According to him, security operatives ordered everyone accompanying Bodejo to leave the premises before detaining him.

 

Umar said the team had not been informed about the reason for the arrest or where Bodejo was being held.

 

He also noted that the same security personnel who escorted him from Abuja to Jalingo were reportedly involved in the arrest.

 

Before he was detained, Bodejo had openly declared that he had obtained the APC senatorial nomination form and insisted he would not withdraw from the race for any candidate.

 

While speaking at the APC secretariat, he maintained that he remained determined to contest and would resist any pressure to step down.

 

He further disclosed that a consensus committee allegedly set up by Agbu Kefas to engage aspirants across the state’s senatorial districts had not reached out to him.

 

Bodejo stressed that no discussion had been held with him regarding stepping aside for another aspirant.

 

The latest incident adds to his previous encounters with security agencies.

 

In 2024, DSS operatives reportedly arrested him over allegations linked to the formation of a vigilante outfit in Nasarawa State.

 

At the time, security personnel, alongside soldiers, stormed the headquarters of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore located at the Tundun Maliya Cattle Market along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway and took him into custody.

 

Authorities are yet to confirm whether the latest arrest is related to his senatorial ambition or an ongoing security investigation.