5 arrested over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has arrested and arraigned five men in Maiduguri for allegedly printing and wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”

According to a First Information Report (FIR) issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and verified through court officials, the suspects are Baba Aji Gremami (44), Mustapha Abba Yemen (28), Abbacha Mohammed Ali (32), Adam Umar Gubio (21), and Abdulhamid Mohammed (21)

The document, dated September 29, 2026, stated that the incident occurred on September 25 at around 11:00 a.m. around the West End Roundabout community in the Borno State capital.

The police charged the defendants with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, and thuggery—offences the prosecution argues run contrary to Sections 60, 78, 79, and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

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When the case was brought before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, all five defendants pleaded not guilty. Their legal counsel subsequently moved a bail application.

The presiding judge adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for a ruling on bail, while the substantive trial has been slated for October 26, 2026.

The arrest and prosecution of the five men for wearing politically themed T-shirts has sparked widespread outrage, drawing severe condemnation from social media commentators and human rights giant Amnesty International.

The police action has fueled allegations from critics accusing a prominent state politician of orchestrating the detentions to stifle political opposition—claims that this publication has not been able to independently verify.

Amnesty Int’l Condemns Arrest, Prosecution

In a strongly worded statement, Amnesty International (AI) slammed the charges against the men as bizarre, labeling their detention as an act of arbitrary arrest.

The organization emphasized that expressing peaceful political dissent through clothing is a fundamental human right, not a criminal offense.

“Clearly, the intention of this reign of repression in Borno State appears to be selective injustice to curtail the opposition in the political space.

“It is sadly creating a toxic climate of fear that is contrary to the democratic principles of freedom and justice,” the statement read.

Amnesty International demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees, urging authorities to dro what it termed a “sham trial based on bogus charges.”

The organization reiterated that the right to peacefully express political opinions must be protected rather than stifled in a democratic society.

The arrests have similarly ignited fierce debate online, with social media users condemning the police action as an abuse of power and a blow to free speech.

Efforts by our correspondent to obtain comments regarding the incident from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustrative purposes