The Borno State Police Command has defended the arrest and prosecution of five men who were found with T-shirts bearing the inscription, Tinubu Must Go, saying the suspects were arrested over alleged possession of illicit substances and conduct capable of causing public disturbance.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said the men were arrested on September 25, 2026, during a routine patrol around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
According to the command, officers allegedly recovered 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, one shisha pot, a pair of scissors and two T-shirts bearing the Tinubu Must Go inscription.
The police said the suspects were subjected to preliminary investigation and their statements were obtained before the case was taken to court.
The five men, identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed, are facing allegations including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
The command said the arrests were not based on the suspects’ political views, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force is a professional and non partisan institution.
The case has generated controversy, with Amnesty International and other critics questioning whether the political message on the shirts was being treated as a criminal offence. The police maintained that the court should determine the matter based on the evidence presented.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty, while the court is expected to rule on their bail application on October 6. The substantive case is scheduled for October 26, 2026.
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