Africa29 September, 20263 min read
Borno Police Arrest Five Nigerians Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts In Maiduguri
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Five men arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri over Tinubu Must Go T-shirts. Amnesty International condemned the arrests as a violation of freedom of expression.
Five detained in Maiduguri
Five Nigerians were arrested and remanded in a reform center in Maiduguri, in the northeast of the country, after wearing shirts bearing the slogan "Tinubu Must Go" referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Amnesty International criticized the prosecution of the five men for a 'slogan on shirts,' saying the arrest constitutes a violation of freedom of expression and called on the authorities to release the detainees and drop the charges. Borno State police alleged the men conspired to print shirts bearing the phrase "On Tinubu Must Go" with the intention of inciting unrest and disturbing the peace in the West End roundabout area in Maiduguri.
The police document cited by local media alleged the men were charged with 'criminal conspiracy' and 'incitement to unrest' and 'disturbing the peace' and 'intimidation' under the Borno State Penal Code. The case was brought before the judiciary, and the men were remanded with no court ruling yet.
Charges, bail, and trial
Blueprint Newspapers said the Borno state Police command 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.” Blueprint Newspapers identified the five defendants as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21. Blueprint Newspapers reported that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) FIR alleged the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, at about 11am around the West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Blueprint Newspapers said the presiding magistrate adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, for ruling on the bail application, and it scheduled the substantive trial for October 26. SaharaReporters quoted the FIR alleging that on 25/09/26 at about 1100 hours the defendants conspired by printing the same T shirt with the inscription 'Tinubu Must Go' with the intent to cause breach of public peace within West End roundabout community.
Atiku and ADC condemn
Atiku Abubakar demanded the immediate release of five Nigerians reportedly arrested in Borno State over T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go,” and he argued that citizens cannot be detained simply for expressing a political opinion.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the five youths.”
Atiku said, “Tinubu opposed Jonathan’s fuel policy in the streets. Nigerians are living with the consequences of Tinubu’s fuel policy in their homes,” and he added, “And when citizens put their anger on a T-shirt, the response is reportedly an arrest.”
Atiku insisted, “‘Tinubu Must Go’ is a demand for political change. It is not a weapon, a threat or a crime,” and he called on the authorities to disclose the detainees’ whereabouts, grant them immediate access to their families and lawyers, and release them if the slogan was the basis for their arrest.
The Borno State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemned the arrest and detention of five youths, and it said the action was “undemocratic, unconstitutional, and provocative act of intolerance.”
The ADC Publicity Secretary Hon Baba Ahmed Mustapha said, “We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the five youths,” and he urged the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, to remain professional and not allow the Police to be turned into a political wing of the ruling party.