‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts: Police explain arrest, prosecution of five Borno men

The Borno State Police Command has explained the circumstances surrounding the arrest and prosecution of five men amid claims that they were detained for wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”

The Command said the political message on the shirts was not the reason for the arrests, stating that the suspects were picked up over alleged actions considered capable of disrupting public peace.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the suspects were arrested at about 6 pm on September 25, 2026.

He said the arrests were made during a routine patrol around the West End Roundabout in Maiduguri, where the suspects were allegedly found engaging in activities linked to disturbance, breach of public peace and thuggery.

According to the police, items recovered from the suspects included 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, a pair of scissors and two T-shirts bearing the words, “Tinubu Must Go.”

The Command said the suspects were subjected to preliminary investigation, during which their statements were recorded.

It added that following the initial investigation, the matter was taken before a competent court for further proceedings.

The police issued the clarification after reports circulated widely, prompting public concerns that the suspects had been arrested over their choice of clothing and the political message displayed on the shirts.

The Command stressed that the Nigeria Police Force is a professional and non-partisan institution that does not discriminate against individuals on account of their political affiliation or views.

It said presenting the matter before the court would enable the appropriate judicial authorities to consider the facts and evidence in accordance with due process.