Bolo was apprehended for reportedly assisting bandits during their raids in various regions of the state.
Bolo, the leader of vigilantes in Kaduna State’s Rigasa region, was charged by the military on the basis of the testimony of a bandit who was apprehended by troops from Operation Thunder Strike and Whirl Punch on December 3.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen Bernard Onyeuko, informed newsmen at a briefing on Thursday that a bandit caught at Paka village in the state’s Igabi Local Government Area accused Bolo during questioning.
He said, “The general security situation in the Operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch theatres was relatively calm within the period in focus. However, a few incidents of security concern were recorded.
”In the course of the operations within the period, troops intercepted and arrested criminal elements as well as recovered arms and ammunitions.
”Notably, on 3 December 2021, troops arrested a notorious armed bandit at Paka community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, who revealed that the Head of vigilantes in Rigasa aids armed banditry and is involved in some attacks and kidnap incidents in the environment.
”Other incidents with significant results were recorded at; Hayin Gada and Rugan Alhaji Ori villages in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.”
However, the arrest of Bolo is understood to be causing tension in Igabi with his relatives accusing the military of maltreating him in custody and denying them full access to him.
The military has been accused by the commander’s younger brother, Haruna Sani of torturing the arrested CJTF commander including chaining him to a hospital bed.
“We don’t know his health situation at the hospital but his lawyer told us he is still alive. The truth is we are worried,” he was quoted to have said by Daily Trust.
In addition, he and other family members have asked the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to intervene in ensuring his release.
Also, Barrister Abdulrashid Aminu, Bolo’s lawyer, questioned why the military hadn’t given him over to the police for prosecution if they actually had evidence against him.
After a petition to the Department of State Security, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army failed to yield any results, the lawyer revealed that a case has been filed in the State High Court seeking N500 million in damages from the military for illegal detention and infringement of Bolo’s fundamental human right.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has distanced itself from Bolo’s arrest, claiming that the military was not involved in the operation.
The Kaduna Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige said: “The command is not aware of his arrest because the military didn’t notify us and so we don’t know his whereabouts or why they arrested him.”
