The arrest of five men in Maiduguri, Borno State, over T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” has developed into a national debate over political expression, public-order laws and the limits of dissent in the country.
What began with the arrest of five men has generated solidarity in other parts of the country, with supporters adopting the same slogan and challenging authorities to arrest others who wear the shirts. Reports circulating on Wednesday, September 30, said some others were using the phrase “Start arresting all of us” to express solidarity with the defendants.
The five men 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 in Maiduguri and dated September 29, the incident occurred on September 25 at about 11 a.m. around the West End Roundabout area of the city.
The police allege that the men conspired to print and wear T-shirts carrying the words “Tinubu Must Go” with the intention of causing a breach of public peace. They were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery, under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The defendants appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I, Maiduguri, where they pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers applied for bail. The court adjourned the bail ruling until October 6, 2026, while the substantive case was fixed for October 26, 2026. The five were remanded in a correctional facility pending the bail decision.
The Borno State Police Command has subsequently offered a fresher account of the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso said the men were arrested during a routine township patrol around the West End Roundabout. According to the command, officers allegedly recovered 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot and a pair of scissors, in addition to two T-shirts bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription.
The police therefore maintain that the prosecution concerns alleged conduct involving public disturbance, thuggery and suspected drug possession, rather than simply the expression of opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
The distinction is important because the FIR reported in court records specifically identifies the printing and wearing of the shirts and the alleged intention to cause a breach of public peace as the basis of the listed charges. The alleged possession of the other items is part of the police’s subsequent explanation of the arrests. The allegations have not been established by a court.
Amnesty International condemns the arrests
Amnesty International has condemned the detention, arguing that peaceful political dissent expressed through clothing should not be criminalised.
The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and withdrawal of the charges, arguing that expressing political opposition is protected by fundamental rights.
Amnesty has also criticised what it describes as a pattern of arrests targeting opposition supporters in Borno.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has also entered the debate.
He has publicly endorsed the Tinubu Must Go movement following a meeting with one of its conveners, Abba Hikima. According to a statement from the ADC, the movement’s campaign became prominent during nationwide Democracy Day protests on June 12, 2026.
In relation to the Maiduguri arrests, Atiku has called for the release of the five men, arguing that a political slogan should not by itself be treated as a threat or weapon. He also called on the authorities to disclose the detainees’ whereabouts and ensure access to their families and lawyers.
The Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of the five men.
The party described the arrests as an infringement on freedom of expression and urged security agencies to operate professionally and within the law. These statements represent the position of the opposition party and are not an independent finding that the arrests were politically motivated.
The arrests have come amid increased political mobilisation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, giving the case significance beyond the five defendants.
The “Tinubu Must Go” slogan has appeared at opposition demonstrations and political gatherings during 2026, while the movement has attracted public figures and political organisations. Atiku’s recent endorsement has further raised its political profile.