Borno Crackdown: Police Prosecute Youths Over 'Tinubu Must Go' T-Shirts
Five men have been arrested in Maiduguri, Borno State, for wearing T-shirts with the inscription “Tinubu Must Go,” facing charges including criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbance. Human rights groups like Amnesty International and the African Democratic Congress have vehemently condemned the arrests, asserting that peaceful political dissent is a fundamental human right. The case has been adjourned for a bail ruling and substantive trial, amidst calls for the men's immediate release.
Five men have been arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri, Borno State, for allegedly printing and wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.” According to a First Information Report (FIR) issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and verified through court officials, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, around 11:00 a.m. near the West End Roundabout community in the Borno State capital. The suspects were identified as Baba Aji Gremami (44), Mustapha Abba Yemen (28), Abbacha Mohammed Ali (32), Adam Umar Gubio (21), and Abdulhamid Mohammed (21).
The Borno State Police Command charged the defendants with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, and thuggery, alleging these actions run contrary to Sections 60, 78, 79, and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code. When the case was brought before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, all five defendants pleaded not guilty. Their legal counsel subsequently moved a bail application. The presiding judge adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for a ruling on bail, while the substantive trial has been slated for October 26, 2026.
The arrests have drawn strong condemnation from both national and international human rights organizations and political bodies. Amnesty International (AI) issued a strongly worded statement, slamming the charges against the men as bizarre and labeling their detention as an act of arbitrary arrest. The organization emphasized that expressing peaceful political dissent through clothing is a fundamental human right, not a criminal offense. Amnesty International demanded the unconditional release of the men and urged authorities to drop any purported plan for a