Police arrest 5 people over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ t-shirts in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has arrested and charged five men in Maiduguri for their alleged involvement in printing and wearing T-shirts reading “Tinubu Must Go”.

The incident has generated controversy in the state, with Amnesty International condemning the arrests and describing the detention of the men as arbitrary, while the police case centers on charges of criminal conspiracy, inciting disorder, disturbing the peace and delinquency. Project reports

The five accused have been identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28 years old; Abbaca Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.

According to a first information report released by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, at around 11am, around West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The FIR alleged that the five men had conspired to print T-shirts reading “Tinubu Must Go” with the intention of causing a breach of peace in the area.

The police classified the alleged crimes as criminal conspiracy, incitement to disorder, disturbing the peace and delinquency, contrary to articles 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the penal code of Borno State.

The defendants plead not guilty

The case was subsequently brought before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, where all five accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their requests, their lawyer submitted a bail request. The presiding magistrate adjourned the case to October 6, 2026 to rule on the bail application.

The substantive trial has also been scheduled for October 26, when the court is expected to begin examining the allegations in the police case.

The case has attracted public attention because the alleged conduct involves the use of a political message on clothing rather than a conventional public demonstration or protest. The police, however, allege in the FIR that the alleged crime was not simply the expression contained on the T-shirts but the alleged intention to cause a breach of the peace.

Amnesty condemns the accusation

Amnesty International has strongly criticized the arrest and prosecution of the five men, arguing that peaceful political dissent is protected by fundamental rights.

In a statement released after the arrests, the organization described the detention as arbitrary and illegal, arguing that wearing clothing that carries a political message does not in itself constitute a criminal offense.

Amnesty has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees and urged the authorities to withdraw what it calls bogus charges.

The organization also criticized what it described as an attempt to use state power to repress political opposition in Borno State, urging the government and security agencies to respect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and association.

Amnesty’s position introduced a broader human rights dimension to the case, particularly regarding the balance between freedom of political expression and the application of public order laws.

The organization argues that citizens should be able to express political opinions, including criticism of political leaders, without being arrested or prosecuted where such expression remains peaceful.

Political accusations emerge

The controversy was also accompanied by accusations regarding the circumstances of the arrests.

A source quoted by SaharaReporters said the arrests followed a directive from Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, to arrest the men for the T-shirts. This claim has not been independently verified and should therefore be treated as a statement from the source rather than as established fact.

The police FIR itself reportedly does not prove that the governor ordered the arrests. Rather, the document sets out the alleged conduct of the five defendants and the crimes for which they were brought before the court.

The distinction is significant because the criminal case is now before the Court, while the separate allegation regarding possible political involvement remains unproven.

According to reports available at the time of publication, the Borno State Police Command has not issued a detailed public statement explaining the circumstances of the arrests beyond the allegations contained in the judicial process.

The case comes amid growing political activity

The arrests also came amid increased political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The slogan “Tinubu Must Go” has been used in protests and political demonstrations in different parts of the country, particularly by groups opposed to President Bola Tinubu and his administration. In Borno, however, the police case concerns the five persons specifically named in the FIR and the alleged circumstances surrounding their activities at the West End roundabout.

The development comes at a time when political parties and support groups are already starting to step up mobilization ahead of the next general elections.

Recent political activities in Borno have included efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen its structures and mobilize support for President Tinubu and other party candidates. As a result, the political environment has become increasingly active, although the precise relationship between these activities and arrests remains a matter of assertion rather than established fact.

Court to determine charges

For now, the five accused remain before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, where the immediate matter is their bail application.

The court is expected to rule on the request on October 6, while the substantive case has been set for October 26. The proceedings will provide an opportunity for the prosecution to present evidence to support its allegations and for the defendants to contest the case against them.

The defendants’ not guilty pleas mean that the allegations contained in the FIR remain unproven unless they are established through the judicial process.

The case has therefore raised issues beyond the five defendants themselves, including the boundaries of political expression, the application of public order laws and the responsibility of security agencies when dealing with dissenting political views.

Although Amnesty International has called for the men’s immediate release and charges to be dropped, the police case remains in court and prosecutors have yet to establish charges against the defendants.

Efforts to obtain further comments from the Borno State Police Command, including its Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful at the time of submission of the application. The outcome of the October 6 bail proceedings and subsequent trial will determine the next stage of the case.