The Borno State Police Command has clarified that five men arrested in Maiduguri were prosecuted not merely for wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go”, but over allegations of inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit substances.
The clarification followed widespread public criticism and controversy surrounding the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
In a press release issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the police said the five suspects were apprehended during a routine township patrol around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri on September 25, 2026, at approximately 6pm.
According to the statement, 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 inscription “Tinubu Must Go”.
The Command said the suspects were subsequently subjected to preliminary investigations, during which statements were obtained from them.
Following the completion of the initial investigation, the case was charged to court.
The police maintained that the Nigeria Police Force remained a professional and non-partisan institution, insisting that it did not discriminate against individuals on the basis of their political affiliations or opinions.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that the Nigeria Police Force is a professional, non-partisan institution and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of political affiliation or viewpoint,” the statement read.
It further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, upholding the rule of law and ensuring due process, accountability and transparency in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The Command explained that the decision to bring the matter before a competent court was intended to allow the judicial process to determine the case, urging members of the public to rely on verified information and allow the court to establish the facts based on the evidence presented.
The clarification comes amid growing controversy over the arrest of the five men, earlier identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed.
Previous reports indicated that they were accused of conspiring to print and wear the controversial T-shirts with the alleged intention of causing a breach of public peace around the West End Roundabout community.
They reportedly faced charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under relevant provisions of the Borno State Penal Code.
The suspects were subsequently arraigned and remanded in custody.
Their arrest attracted strong reactions from civil society organisations and opposition figures, with Amnesty International condemning the action as arbitrary and describing the detention as an instance of selective injustice aimed at suppressing opposition.
The human rights organisation maintained that peacefully expressing political dissent through clothing constituted a fundamental human right and should not be criminalised.
It called for the immediate and unconditional release of the suspects and the withdrawal of what it described as a sham trial based on bogus charges.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the arrests and called for the release of the five men.
However, the Borno State Police Command insisted that its actions were based on the allegations and items reportedly recovered from the suspects, maintaining that it remained committed to professionalism, impartiality and the protection of lives and property.
The matter is now before the court, which is expected to determine the allegations in accordance with the law.
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