The Borno State Police Command has arrested and arraigned five men in Maiduguri for allegedly printing and wearing T-shirts with the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”

The suspects are Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.

According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department and verified through court officials, the men were arrested on September 25, 2026, around 11am in the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.

The police charged the defendants with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.

Their counsel subsequently filed a bail application, while the court adjourned the case until October 6 for ruling on the application. The substantive trial has been fixed for October 26.

The arrests have attracted criticism from human rights groups and social media users, with Amnesty International describing the charges as “bizarre” and the detention as arbitrary.

Amnesty International said peaceful expression of political opinions, including through clothing, is a fundamental right and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the five men.

The organisation also urged the authorities to discontinue what it described as a “sham trial based on bogus charges,” stressing the need to protect freedom of expression in a democratic society.

The arrests have also sparked allegations that a prominent politician in Borno may have influenced the detentions to suppress political opposition. The allegation, however, has not been independently verified.

The development has continued to generate debate online, with critics questioning the police action and raising concerns over freedom of expression and the right to peaceful political dissent.