The Borno State Police Command has clarified the arrest of five men found with “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts, saying they were not arrested solely over the political message on the shirts.
The suspects were arrested around 6pm on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri during a routine police patrol.
According to the police, officers allegedly found 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, scissors and two “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts in their possession.
The Command said the men were prosecuted over allegations including inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit substances.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, the police said it remained a “professional, non-partisan institution” that does not discriminate based on political affiliation or viewpoint.
The suspects, identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed, were arraigned and remanded on charges including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance and thuggery.
The arrests have sparked criticism from Amnesty International and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Amnesty International described the arrests as arbitrary and called for the suspects’ unconditional release, while Atiku also demanded their release.
The Borno Police maintained that the case was taken to court to allow the allegations to be determined through due process.