Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Umar has dismissed reports claiming he was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) after hosting former presidential candidate Peter Obi in Kaduna.
In a video message that went viral, Umar said he was neither arrested nor mistreated, explaining that he was simply invited for questioning and has since been released.
“I come today to correct a false report being circulated in some quarters. I was not detained by the DSS. I was invited for questioning. I cooperated fully, and I was released. I am free, safe and well,” Umar said.
The cleric urged citizens to remain calm and law-abiding, emphasizing that no one should take the law into their own hands or create disorder in the name of loyalty.
He also appealed for patience regarding ongoing legal matters involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and encouraged active participation in the electoral process.
Umar’s clarification follows claims by Peter Obi on his X page on Tuesday, where the former presidential candidate alleged that Umar had been arrested shortly after hosting him on Sunday.
Obi described the supposed detention as a troubling sign of democratic decline, warning that freedom of speech and political expression are under threat.
“I have just been made aware early this morning that Revered religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar has been arrested by authorities shortly after hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday,” Obi wrote.
“This development underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, where freedom of speech and movement is increasingly threatened, and where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecution. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
