Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of Bello Bodejo, an aspirant for the Taraba Central Senatorial District ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bodejo, also the President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, was picked up by security operatives after arriving in Jalingo through the Danbaba Suntai Airport, on Thursday.
According to his personal aide, Malam Umar, the leader was arrested after visiting offices of some security agencies, accompanied by his close political associates.
Before his arrest, Bodejo had told journalists at the APC secretariat that he purchased the senatorial nomination form to contest the election and insisted that he would not step down for any aspirant.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Daily Trust, Umar said the security operatives who arrested Bodejo later handed him over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
Umar linked the arrest to Bodejo’s growing popularity in the constituency and accused some top government officials in the state of masterminding it.
In a statement on Sunday, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, asked authorities to either charge Bodejo to court if found guilty of wrongdoing or release him.
Noting that every individual has the right to participate freely in social and political affairs, Sanusi cautioned security agencies against arbitrary arrests, detention and undue restrictions on citizens’ rights.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrest of Bello Badejo by the Department of State Services (DSS) on 7 May 2026 in Jalingo Taraba state.
“He was subsequently transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The authorities should charge him to court — if there is evidence of any wrongdoing — or release him, instead of detaining him indefinitely in what appears to be a politically motivated and state orchestrated abuse of power.
“Nigeria’s security agencies and anti-corruption agencies must always uphold due process of law and not become a tool in the hands of politicians; by carrying out arbitrary arrests, detentions, and other undue restrictions of the rights of individuals to the legitimate exercise of freedom of association and movement,” Sanusi said.