Borno Police 'Tinubu Must Go' Charges: 5 Face Drug, Public Peace Counts

• Five men were arrested in Maiduguri on September 25, 2026, while wearing "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts.
• Borno Police clarified the arrests were for inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery, and possession of drug substances, not solely the T-shirts.
• Items found included suspected Indian hemp, D5 tablets, a shisha pot, and two "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts.
• The suspects have been arraigned and remanded in court under sections of the Borno State Penal Code.
• Amnesty International and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the arrests, citing fundamental rights to political dissent and calling for their release.

Amnesty International strongly condemned the arrests, characterizing the detentions as arbitrary and an act of selective injustice aimed at suppressing political dissent, asserting that peaceful expression of political views through clothing is a fundamental human right.

Five individuals were apprehended in Maiduguri on September 25, 2026, around 6 PM, near the West End Roundabout, an incident that quickly drew significant public attention. While initial reports highlighted their attire—T-shirts bearing the inscription "Tinubu Must Go"—the Borno State Police Command later clarified that the arrests were not solely due to their political messaging. The suspects, identified in earlier accounts as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed, faced a broader array of allegations.

During the apprehension, officers discovered several items in the suspects' possession. These included 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets believed to be D5, one shisha pot, a pair of scissors, and two of the aforementioned "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts. This discovery formed a crucial part of the official justification for their detention, shifting the narrative from purely political expression to a more complex criminal matter.

Following preliminary investigations, the Borno Police 'Tinubu Must Go' charges were formally brought against the five men. The charges included inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery, and possession of drug substances, all falling under relevant sections of the Borno State Penal Code. The suspects were subsequently arraigned in court and remanded, allowing the judicial process to commence.

In a press release issued on a Wednesday by ASP Nahum Daso, the Police Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the Command addressed the widespread public discourse. The statement emphasized the Nigerian police's commitment to being a professional, non-partisan institution that does not discriminate based on political affiliation. It further asserted the Command's dedication to protecting fundamental human rights, upholding the rule of law, ensuring due process, and maintaining accountability and transparency in its duties. The public was urged to rely on verified information and allow the court to determine the matter based on presented facts and evidence.

The arrests triggered widespread controversy and drew sharp reactions from various civil society organizations and opposition figures. Amnesty International strongly condemned the arrests, characterizing the detentions as arbitrary and an act of selective injustice aimed at suppressing political dissent, asserting that peaceful expression of political views through clothing is a fundamental human right. The rights group insisted that such expression is not a crime and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the men, along with the dropping of what it termed a "sham trial based on bogus charges."

Echoing these sentiments, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also publicly condemned the arrests and called for the release of the five individuals. These reactions highlighted a significant tension between the police's official narrative of criminal charges and the public perception of the arrests as an attempt to curtail political dissent, particularly concerning the Borno Police 'Tinubu Must Go' T-shirt incident. Initial reports, preceding the police clarification, had suggested the men were accused of conspiring to print and wear the T-shirts with the alleged intent of causing a breach of public peace around the West End Roundabout community.

This case serves as a critical example for legal practitioners advising clients on public expression or defending those arrested in similar circumstances. It underscores the necessity of scrutinizing the actual charges brought by law enforcement, as they may differ significantly from initial public perception and often involve broader criminal offenses like public disturbance or drug possession, rather than solely political expression. The Borno Police 'Tinubu Must Go' charges demonstrate how authorities might frame arrests to include non-political offenses, even when political messaging is a visible component.

This incident provides a precedent for how such situations are handled by the police and judiciary in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of understanding the full legal basis for arrests beyond perceived political motivations. Lawyers must delve into the specifics of the Borno State Penal Code charges to effectively represent individuals in such cases, ensuring that fundamental rights are protected while navigating the complexities of criminal law. Despite the controversy, the Borno State Police Command maintained its commitment to professionalism, impartiality, and the protection of lives and property.

Lawyers advising clients on public expression or defending those arrested in similar circumstances should scrutinize the actual charges brought by law enforcement, as they may differ from initial public perception and often involve broader criminal offenses like public disturbance or drug possession. This case provides a precedent for how such situations are handled by the police and judiciary in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of understanding the full legal basis for arrests beyond perceived political motivations.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers