The Nigerian Military has arrested one of the commanders of the Kaduna State Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Aminu Sani widely known as Bolo.
NaijaNews learnt Bolo was arrested for allegedly providing support for bandits during their attacks on some parts of the State.
Bolo who is the head of Vigilantes in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State was accused by the Military based on the testimony of a bandit who was arrested by the soldiers attached to the operation Thunder Strike and Whirl Punch on December 3.
Speaking on the arrest, NaijaNews recalls the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, told newsmen during a briefing on Thursday that a bandit arrested at Paka Community in Igabi Local Government Area of the State implicated Bolo during an investigation.
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 ammunition.
‘’Notably, on December 2021, troops arrested a notorious armed bandit at Paka Community in Igabi Local Government Area 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 environments.
‘’Other incidents with significant results were recorded at Hayin Gada and Rugan Alhaji Ori villages in Igabi Local Government of Kaduna State’’.
However, the arrest of Bolo is understood to be causing tension in Igabi with his relations 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 that he is still alive. The truth is that we are worried’’, he was quoted to have said by Daily Trust.
In the same vein, he and other family members have demanded the intervention of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir, EL-Rufai in securing his release.
Also Bolo’s layer Barrister Abdulrasshid Aminu questioned why the military had not handed him over to the Police for prosecution if they truly had evidence against him.
The lawyer revealed further that a case has been filed at the State High Court, demanding N500 million in damages against the military for illegal detention and infringement of Bolo’s fundamental human rights after a petition to the Department of State Security, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army failed to yield any result.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna Police Command Public Relations Officer ASP Mohammed Jalige said, ‘’The command is not aware of his arrest because the military did not notify us, and so, we don’t know his whereabouts or why they arrested him’’.