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

The Borno state Police command has arrested and arraigned five men in Maiduguri over their alleged involvement in the printing and wearing of T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”

The development 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 centres on allegations of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery. Blueprint reports

The five defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.

According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, at about 11am around the West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

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

The police listed the alleged offences as criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery, contrary to Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

Boxing Defendants plead not guilty

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

Following their pleas, their legal counsel moved an application for bail. The presiding magistrate adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.

The substantive trial has also been scheduled for October 26, when the court is expected to begin consideration of the allegations contained 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, maintain in the FIR that the alleged offence was not simply the expression contained on the shirts but the purported intention to cause a breach of public peace.

Boxing Amnesty condemns prosecution

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

In a statement issued following the arrests, the organisation described the detention as arbitrary and unlawful, maintaining that wearing clothing carrying a political message does not, by itself, amount to a criminal offence.

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

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

Amnesty’s position has introduced a wider human-rights dimension to the case, particularly concerning the balance between freedom of political expression and the enforcement of public-order laws.

The organisation argued that citizens should be able to express political opinions, including criticism of political leaders, without facing arrest or prosecution where such expression remains peaceful.

Boxing Political allegations emerge

The controversy has also been accompanied by allegations concerning the circumstances surrounding the arrests.

A source cited by SaharaReporters alleged that the arrests followed a directive from Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, to arrest the men over the T-shirts. That allegation has not been independently verified and should therefore be treated as a claim by the source rather than an established fact.

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

The distinction is significant because the criminal proceedings are now before the court, while the separate allegation concerning possible political involvement remains unproven.

The Borno State Police Command had not issued a detailed public statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrests beyond the allegations contained in the court process, according to reports available at the time of publication.

Boxing Case comes amid rising political activity

The arrests have also occurred against the backdrop of increasing political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The “Tinubu Must Go” slogan has been used in political protests and 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 individuals specifically named in the FIR and the alleged circumstances surrounding their activities at West End Roundabout.

The development comes at a time when political parties and support groups are already beginning to intensify mobilisation 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 mobilise support for President Tinubu and other party candidates. The political environment has consequently become increasingly active, although the precise relationship between those activities and the arrests remains a matter of allegation rather than established fact.

Boxing Court to determine allegations

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

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

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

The case has therefore raised questions extending 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.

While Amnesty International has called for the men’s immediate release and withdrawal of the charges, the police case remains before the court and the prosecution is yet to establish the allegations 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 filing. The outcome of the October 6 bail proceedings and subsequent trial will determine the next stage of the case.