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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has strongly condemned the reported arrest of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, describing the development as an attack on democracy and civil liberties.
The group’s President General, Goodluck Ibem, in a statement, yesterday, expressed outrage over the incident, insisting that the alleged arrest was unjustified and dangerous to Nigeria’s democratic system.
He said: “This disturbing development is not only shocking but represents a dangerous assault on the fundamental principles of democracy, civil liberty, and the rule of law. The alleged action is anti-democratic, wicked, barbaric, and unacceptable in any society that claims to uphold justice and freedom.”
COSEYL, the apex socio-political youth body in the South East, said it viewed the incident as a deliberate attempt to intimidate citizens and suppress their constitutional rights, particularly the freedoms of association, expression, and movement.
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Ibem stressed that no Nigerian should be subjected to harassment or arrest for hosting a guest, regardless of political affiliations.
“Nigeria is not a police state. No citizen should be harassed, intimidated, or arrested simply for exercising their constitutional rights or for hosting a guest. Such actions set a dangerous precedent and signal a steady drift toward authoritarianism,” he said.
COSEYL, therefore, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Umar, alongside a full explanation from relevant authorities on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
They further urged civil society organisations, pro-democracy advocates, and the international community to speak out against what it described as a growing trend of repression.
