‘I Was Invited By DSS For Questioning & Released’ — Kaduna Cleric, Ahmad Umar

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar has firmly refuted claims that he was detained by the Department of State Services after hosting former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in Kaduna on Sunday.

NaijaChoice News reports that Umar made the clarification in a viral video that surfaced hours after Obi’s Tuesday post on X, where the former Anambra governor alleged the cleric’s arrest. The video has since spread widely across social media platforms in Nigeria, sparking fresh debates on security agencies and political visits.

Obi had described the reported arrest as a troubling sign of threats to free speech and democracy in the country. In his statement, he noted that Umar was taken in by authorities shortly after their meeting, urging the government to uphold the rule of law and stop intimidation of citizens.

Umar, however, insisted he faced no such detention or mistreatment. “I was not arrested. I was only invited for questioning by the DSS. I cooperated fully and I have since been released. I am free. I am safe,” he said in the circulating clip.

The incident has drawn attention to ongoing tensions around opposition figures and their engagements in the North. Obi’s Sunday visit to Kaduna formed part of his continued outreach across regions, months after the 2023 polls.

Security sources have not issued any official statement on the matter as at press time. Umar’s denial has calmed some online speculation, though many Nigerians continue to monitor developments closely for any fresh twist.