The Borno State Police Command has arrested and taken five men to court in Maiduguri over T shirts carrying the message “Tinubu Must Go.”
The men 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 in Maiduguri, the incident happened on September 25, 2026, around 11am in the West End Roundabout area of the Borno State capital.
The police accused the five men of working together to print and wear the shirts, alleging that their actions were intended to cause a breach of public peace.
They were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The case was heard at Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, where the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyer then applied for bail.
The court fixed October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application. The substantive case was adjourned to October 26, 2026. Reports say the men were remanded in custody while they await the bail decision.
The arrests have drawn reactions from rights groups and political figures.
Amnesty International condemned the arrests, arguing that wearing a shirt expressing political opposition should not by itself be treated as a criminal offence. The organisation called for the release of the five men and urged authorities to drop the charges.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also called for the release of the men. He said citizens should be allowed to express political views peacefully and asked authorities to provide information about the detainees and ensure they have access to their families and lawyers.
The Borno State Police Command had not issued a public response to the criticism as of the latest reports. Premium Times said its attempts to reach the Borno police spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful.
There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in the state may have influenced the arrests. Those claims have not been independently verified, and the police case documents cited in reports focus on the alleged conduct of the five men and the claim that their actions were intended to disturb public peace.
The defendants remain presumed innocent unless and until a court establishes otherwise. The next major development in the case is expected on October 6, when the court is due to rule on their bail application.
