Muslim cleric held after Nigeria riots

A fatwa was issued by northern Nigerian Muslims

Nigerian secret police have arrested a Muslim leader in Kaduna, where more than 200 people were killed in riots sparked by the Miss World beauty contest.

Nafiu Baba Ahmed, secretary general of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, was whisked away from his home on Friday night, the French news agency AFP said.

They forced him into a car and sped off without saying a word to anybody

Ibrahim Said, aide to Mr Nafiu

More than 300 people were arrested in connection with the riots but there has been criticism that the ring-leaders have been left alone.

Following the riots, which saw deadly attacks on the city's Christians and then retaliation against Muslim targets, the Miss World contest was switched to London, where the final is due on 7 December.

The rioting was triggered by an article in the Lagos-based ThisDay newspaper, saying that the Prophet Mohammed might have approved of the contest and even chosen to marry one of the contestants.

Political arrest

An aide to Mr Nafiu told AFP that he had been taken to the capital, Abuja.

"About 30 security personnel came to the house around 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) and requested to see him. They forced him into a car and sped off without saying a word to anybody," said Ibrahim Said.

The chairman of the Sharia Council, Datti Ahmad, told AFP that the arrest was linked to Mr Nafiu's opposition to Kaduna Governor Ahmed Makarfi, an ally of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

"The arrest is obviously politically motivated at the order of the governor who has been busy accusing perceived political opponents of causing the violence," Mr Ahmad said.

Some accuse the governor of being too soft in implementing Kaduna's Sharia law.

Analysts say the rioting was an attempt by northern Muslims to embarrass Mr Obasanjo, a southern Christian, who is standing for re-election next year.

ThisDay has apologised for publishing the article and the fashion journalist who wrote it, Isioma Daniel, has fled the country after some Muslim radicals threatened to kill her.