Kaduna – Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, a prominent Islamic cleric based in Kaduna, has dismissed claims that he was detained by security agents following a recent visit by former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The clarification comes after Obi, in a social media post on Tuesday, alleged that Umar was arrested shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday. Obi described the alleged arrest as a worrying sign of shrinking democratic space, citing threats to freedom of expression and political participation.

However, Umar, in a viral video circulating hours after Obi’s claim, refuted the report, stressing that he was neither detained nor mistreated. “I was invited for questioning, fully cooperated, and have since been released. I am free, safe, and well,” the cleric said.

Umar urged residents and his followers to remain calm and law-abiding, emphasizing that no one should take the law into their own hands. He also called on Nigerians to engage in democratic processes to address political grievances, stating, “The answer is simple: register, vote, and choose better leadership when the time comes.”