Criticisms have trailed the reported arrest of Islamic cleric, Ahmad Tijjani Umar, with Peter Obi describing the development as a dangerous signal for Nigeria’s already fragile democracy.

The former presidential candidate revealed that the cleric was taken into custody shortly after hosting him in Kaduna, raising alarm over what he sees as a growing pattern of intimidation against perceived critics and opposition voices.

Obi, while writing on his X handleyesterday,warned that the incident reflects a deeper erosion of civil liberties and democratic norms.

He called on authorities to immediately respect constitutional rights and ensure that all actions taken against citizens are guided strictly by the rule of law.

Beyond the specific case, Obi warned of a broader pattern that, if allowed to persist, could undermine the nation’s democratic progress and tarnish its global image.

BUT the Kaduna-based cleric has dismissed reports that he was arrested and detained after hosting Obi.

The controversy began yesterday when the former two-term governor of Anambra State claimed that the Islamic scholar had been taken into custody shortly after the visit, describing the alleged development as a worrying indication of shrinking democratic space.

Without naming the security agency involved, Obi warned that the development reflects a broader pattern of intolerance and repression in the country.

However, Umar swiftly countered the claim in a video that circulated widely hours later, clarifying that he was not arrested or detained by the secret police at any time.