Borno police say five men face charges beyond anti-Tinubu shirts

The Borno State Police Command says five men arrested in Maiduguri were charged over alleged incitement, breach of public peace, thuggery and suspected drug possession, not merely for wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.” Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Daso said in a statement that officers detained the men during a routine patrol near West End Roundabout at about 6pm on September 25, 2026. According to the command, officers found 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, scissors and two of the political T-shirts. The suspects underwent preliminary investigation, during which statements were obtained, before the case was taken to court.

Earlier accounts identified the men as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed. They were accused of conspiring to print and wear the shirts with the alleged intention of causing a breach of public peace and faced charges under sections of the Borno State Penal Code. The command said the Nigeria Police Force was professional and non-partisan and did not discriminate based on political affiliation or viewpoint.

It said bringing the matter before a competent court would allow due process to take place and urged the public to rely on verified information. The arrests prompted criticism from civil society organisations and opposition figures. Amnesty International described them as arbitrary and called for the men’s unconditional release, arguing that peaceful political expression through clothing is a right.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also called for their release. The police said the court should determine the case on the evidence presented.