By SUNTV Global Channel | January 3, 2026
Fresh allegations of human rights abuses have emerged against the Nigerian government following reports that a prominent Islamic scholar based in Zaria, Kaduna State, Sheikh Sani Khalifa, has been secretly detained for several weeks without charge and moved to an unknown location.
SUNTV Global Channel reliably gathered that Sheikh Khalifa, a well-known cleric with a large following in northern Nigeria, has been in the custody of security operatives for approximately 23 days, with no official statement issued by any security agency regarding his arrest or detention. His family, associates, and legal representatives are reportedly unaware of his whereabouts, raising serious concerns about enforced disappearance and violations of due process.
According to multiple sources familiar with the incident, the cleric’s troubles reportedly began quietly when his personal bank account was suddenly frozen without any written notification or court order. Efforts to resolve the issue at the bank’s Zaria branch reportedly proved futile, as officials allegedly informed him that the matter could only be addressed at the bank’s headquarters in Abuja.
Sources said Sheikh Khalifa subsequently travelled to Abuja in good faith to seek clarification and restore access to his account. However, upon his arrival in the federal capital, security operatives allegedly intercepted him and took him into custody.
A source told SUNTV Global Channel that the cleric was accused of having links to a soldier allegedly involved in an attempted coup against the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government. The basis for the allegation, according to the source, was a ₦2 million transfer that had once been made into Sheikh Khalifa’s bank account by the soldier.
Security operatives reportedly claimed that the transaction suggested a relationship between the cleric and the soldier, who is said to be under investigation for alleged involvement in a coup plot.
However, several associates of Sheikh Khalifa have vehemently denied any such connection, describing the allegation as unfounded and misleading. According to them, there was no political, financial, or criminal relationship between the cleric and the soldier.
One source explained that the interaction was purely incidental and religious in nature.
“Sheikh Sani Khalifa has no personal or business relationship with that soldier,” the source said. “One of the Sheikh’s students knew the soldier and once introduced them briefly over the phone. They only exchanged greetings.”
The source further disclosed that the soldier later obtained Sheikh Khalifa’s bank account number through the student and sent ₦2 million, requesting prayers and blessings.
“This is a very common practice among followers who seek spiritual guidance and prayers from respected clerics,” the source explained. “There was no discussion about politics, no criminal plan, and no hidden agenda. It was strictly about prayers.”
The source added that there are growing fears that security agencies may now be profiling and arresting individuals who had any form of contact or transaction with the soldier under investigation, regardless of the context.
“Now it is being said that anyone who ever had any transaction with that soldier is being tracked and arrested,” the source alleged.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have neither confirmed nor denied Sheikh Khalifa’s detention. No charges have been formally filed against him, and there has been no indication that he has been arraigned before any court of law.
Family members and close associates say they have been denied access to him and have been unable to communicate with him since his arrest. They describe the situation as deeply distressing and have called on the government to respect the rule of law.
They are demanding either his immediate and unconditional release or that he be promptly charged in court in accordance with Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty, access to legal counsel, and timely arraignment.
Legal analysts and rights advocates warn that prolonged detention without trial and secret transfers to undisclosed locations violate both Nigerian law and international human rights conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The development comes against the backdrop of heightened tension within Nigeria’s security and political landscape. In October 2025, SaharaReporters reported that at least 16 senior military officers were being detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over an alleged plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration. The revelation heightened public anxiety about internal security crackdowns and the potential for abuse of power.
Observers say the alleged detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa risks further inflaming public mistrust, particularly among religious communities, and could deepen concerns about the shrinking civic space and respect for civil liberties in the country.
Human rights groups are reportedly preparing to petition relevant authorities and international bodies if clarity is not provided on the cleric’s whereabouts and legal status.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to follow this developing story closely and will provide updates as more details emerge.
