Tension has continued to trail the political atmosphere in Taraba State following the alleged arrest of Senate aspirant and National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Dr. Bello Bodejo, by suspected operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Jalingo.
The Bodejo Campaign Council for Senate 2027 in Taraba Central Senatorial District described the development as an act of intimidation targeted at frustrating the political ambition of its principal.
Bodejo was reportedly taken away on Thursday evening shortly after visiting the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Jalingo to submit his nomination form ahead of the 2027 senatorial contest.
According to sources within the campaign organisation, Bodejo and members of his entourage had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the APC leadership in the state capital before the incident occurred.
The campaign council alleged that plain-clothes security operatives, believed to be officials of the DSS, stormed the Blue Nile Hotel in Jalingo around 6:30 p.m. and whisked the aspirant away to an undisclosed location.
In a statement issued by the Director-General of the campaign council, Alhaji Adamu Isa Kirim, the group condemned the operation, describing it as a violation of Bodejo’s fundamental rights.
The council claimed the action was connected to the large turnout of supporters who welcomed the aspirant during his visit to the state.
“We in the council feel that the opponents of our Principal Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo felt very intimidated by the mammoth crowd that received the aspirant from the Jalingo Airport through the city center to the APC state secretariat,” the statement read.
“The sophisticated and well structured procession programme of the aspirant has sent fears through the spines of his opponents but that doesn’t scare us as we are determined to bring a new lease of life to the people of Central Taraba.”
The council further alleged that political rivals were attempting to frustrate Bodejo’s senatorial ambition despite his compliance with the party’s nomination procedures.
“Probably, it is the fear of the strength of our aspirant that made fellow competitors are exploiting every avenue to ensure that Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo is not allowed to go through due process despite the fact he has genuinely purchased, processed and returned his Intent/Nomination forms indicating his interest to contest the Senatorial seat for Taraba Central Senatorial District,” the statement added.
According to the campaign organisation, all relevant security agencies in the state had been officially informed about Bodejo’s visit before his arrival in Jalingo.
“It should also be on record that the Thursday May 7th 2026 visit of Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo was officially communicated to all relevant security agencies in the state and acknowledged copies of receipts were obtained filed in our office,” Kirim stated.
The council appealed to supporters across Taraba Central and beyond to remain calm, assuring them that legal steps were already being taken to secure the immediate release of the APC aspirant.
“The campaign council wishes to appeal to the supporters of Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo within the Taraba Central Senatorial District and beyond to calm down as his legal team is not relenting in efforts to secure his immediate release to come back to Taraba and continue with his campaign and other electioneering programmes.”
