Sheikh Arrested Hours After Hosting Peter Obi, Calls It Harassment of Political Opponents

Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the arrest of a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, just days after the cleric hosted him in Kaduna.

In a statement posted on his social media account early on March 24, 2026, Obi said he was made aware that Sheikh Umar was arrested by authorities shortly after their meeting on Sunday. The former presidential candidate described the development as deeply troubling and a sign of the increasingly fragile state of democracy in Nigeria.

Obi said the arrest underscores a growing pattern where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecution for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and movement. He warned that such actions cannot be allowed to continue if the country intends to remain a democratic society.

The former governor emphasized that suppression and intimidation of dissent have no place in any democracy. He called on the Nigerian government to immediately stop what he described as the undermining of the nation’s democracy and to apply the rule of law in dealing with citizens.

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Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar is a respected religious leader in Kaduna State known for his outspoken views on governance and social justice. His meeting with Peter Obi, a leading opposition figure, occurred over the weekend and was seen by many as part of Obi’s continued engagement with religious and community leaders across the country.

The timing of the arrest, coming so soon after the meeting, has sparked widespread condemnation from civil society groups and political observers who see it as an attempt to intimidate anyone perceived to be aligning with opposition figures. Critics argue that the government is increasingly using security agencies to silence voices that are not in support of the current administration.

As of the time of this report, the Nigerian government and security agencies had not issued an official statement explaining the reasons for Sheikh Umar’s arrest. His whereabouts and the charges against him, if any, remain unclear.

Peter Obi concluded his statement with a call for all those bent on undermining the country’s democracy to stop and to apply the tenets of democracy in dealing with citizens. He stressed that freedom and free speech are the hallmarks of every democratic society and must be defended at all costs.

The arrest has added to growing concerns about the state of civil liberties in Nigeria, with many watching closely to see whether the government will release the cleric or allow due process to take its course without political interference.

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