Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bauchi State Council, has threatened to withhold its votes from presidential candidates in the 2027 general elections unless its national leader, Bello Bodejo, is released from detention.

The group said it would not support the presidential candidate of any political party in the election while Bodejo remained in detention.

This is as it called on government authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to intervene, saying the matter should be addressed in the interest of justice, peace and Bodejo’s family.

The state chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Sale Garbu, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference in Bauchi, where he called on the Federal Government to intervene in the matter.

Garbu specifically appealed to President Bola Tinubu to review the circumstances surrounding Bodejo’s detention and the charges against him, with a view to securing his unconditional release.

He said the continued detention of the organisation’s leader had created anxiety among members, while also expressing concern about the effect of his absence on his family.

According to him, Bodejo had contributed to efforts aimed at promoting peace and security in the country, particularly through initiatives addressing challenges affecting communities.

Garbu also urged Bauchi State governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, to intervene and support efforts to secure Bodejo’s release.

He said the organisation’s decision on the 2027 election was informed by its concerns over the continued detention of its national leader.

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps has arrested 62 people during an enforcement operation aimed at curbing street begging in the Ajah and Lekki areas of the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on X, stating that the operation resulted in the apprehension of 29 street beggars and 33 children allegedly being exploited for illegal street begging.

Wahab said the individuals arrested during the exercise had been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.

“A total of 62 individuals, comprising 29 street beggars and 33 children allegedly being exploited for illegal street begging, were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps during an enforcement operation in the Ajah and Lekki areas of Lagos State.

“They have all been transferred to the appropriate authorities for necessary action,” he wrote.

The latest arrests came days after the corps apprehended 215 street beggars in a separate enforcement operation conducted in different parts of Lagos.

Wahab had disclosed in an X post on Saturday that the earlier exercise was part of intensified efforts to tackle street begging and the activities of street urchins.

According to the commissioner, those apprehended comprised 152 males, 46 females and 17 young adults.

He said the enforcement exercises were part of the state government’s broader efforts to maintain public order, improve environmental sanitation and create safer and more orderly public spaces across Lagos.

The Osun State Amotekun Corps has said its Corps Commander, Isaac Omoyele, voluntarily handed over four of its operatives to the police over the recent attacks in Ile-Ife and the death of Oyeyemi Ajagungbade Emir, an aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The Corps dismissed reports circulating on social media that five of its operatives were arrested by the police in connection with the incident, describing the reports as misleading.

In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Idowu Abass, the Corps clarified that its operatives were not arrested.

“The attention of the Osun State Amotekun Corps has been drawn to reports circulating on social media alleging that five operatives of the Corps were arrested by the police in connection with the death of the late Oyeyemi Ajagungbade Emir and the recent attacks in Ile-Ife.

“The Osun Amotekun Corps wishes to state categorically that the report, as presented, is misleading and does not reflect the true circumstances of the matter,” the statement read.

Abass explained that Omoyele personally handed over four operatives attached to NURTW chieftain, Alowonle Nurudeen, to the Osun State Police Command in the interest of transparency and accountability.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Police did not arrest the Amotekun operatives in question. Rather, the Corps Commander, in the interest of transparency, accountability and a thorough investigation, personally handed over four operatives attached to NURTW chieftain Alowonle Nurudeen to the Osun State Police Command.

“The decision was taken to enable the police to conduct their investigation and unravel the circumstances surrounding the attacks in Ile-Ife,” he said.

He urged the public and media practitioners to distinguish between arrest and voluntary handover for investigation, and to avoid sensationalising the matter before the conclusion of police investigation.

“The circumstances surrounding the four operatives should not be misrepresented or sensationalised before the conclusion of the police investigation.

“The Osun State Amotekun Corps remains committed to professionalism, discipline, accountability and cooperation with other security agencies. The Corps does not condone indiscipline or any conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the security architecture of the state,” Abass added.

The Corps appealed to journalists, bloggers and social media commentators to verify information before publishing, especially on sensitive security matters, and urged the public to allow police investigation run its full course without passing premature judgment.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and supporting relevant security agencies to ensure anyone found culpable faces the law.