The Borno State Police Command has said five men arrested in Maiduguri over T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” were also found with substances suspected to be Indian hemp, tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot and scissors.
The Command made the clarification in a statement on Wednesday following public reactions to the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, whose case was previously reported by SaharaReporters.
The police said the suspects were arrested on September 25, 2026, during a routine township patrol around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
BORNO
According to the Command, the suspects were apprehended over alleged conduct capable of causing public disturbance.
“On 25 September, 2026, at about 1800hrs, officers of the Command, while on a routine township patrol around West End Roundabout area Maiduguri, apprehended five suspects allegedly involved in conduct capable of causing public disturbance,” the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said.
The police said a search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, one shisha pot, one scissors and two T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”
The suspects were subsequently subjected to preliminary investigation, during which the police said statements were obtained from them.
BORNO
“Upon completion of the initial investigation, the case was charged to court,” the Command said.
The clarification follows a report by SaharaReporters on Tuesday that the five men had been arrested and charged over the T-shirts.
The men were identified in the First Information Report (FIR) obtained by SaharaReporters as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
The FIR, dated September 29, 2026, was issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Maiduguri, and addressed to the Chief Magistrate Court in the city.
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It listed the alleged offences as criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
BORNO POLICE
According to the FIR, the five men allegedly conspired to print T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” with the intention of causing a breach of public peace within the West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri.
The police document cited Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The FIR stated: “On 25/09/26 at about 1100 hours, you Baba Aji Gremami, male; Mustapha Abba Yemen, male; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, male; Adam Umar Gubio, male and Abdulhamid Mohammed, male, conspired together by printing same T shirt with some inscription written ‘Tinubu Must Go’ on it with the intent to cause breach of public peace within West End roundabout community, thereby, you all committed an offence contrary to Section 60, 78, 79 and 392 of Borno State Penal Code.”
The police had directed that the case be taken to court.
A source had also told SaharaReporters that the five men were subsequently taken to court and remanded in a correctional facility.
In its latest statement, however, the Police Command sought to distance the arrests and prosecution from political discrimination, insisting that the Nigeria Police Force is a non-partisan institution.
“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 said.
It added that the Command remained committed to “the protection of fundamental human rights, the rule of law, due process, accountability and transparency” in the discharge of its duties.
The police said the decision to charge the suspects before a competent court was intended to allow the judicial process to determine the matter.
“The Borno State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, impartiality, accountability and the protection of lives and property,” it said.
The arrests have drawn attention because of the political nature of the slogan on the T-shirts, particularly as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections.
The “Tinubu Must Go” slogan has featured in protests and political demonstrations in Nigeria. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also recently called for the release of Nigerians reportedly arrested in Borno over the T-shirts, describing the slogan as political expression.
The police statement, however, says the suspects were arrested following a patrol and that officers recovered the alleged drug substances and other items in addition to the T-shirts.
