The Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the arrest and prosecution of five youths in Maiduguri over T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
This was just as the party described the arrests as an infringement on the youths’ right to freedom of expression and urged the authorities to release them immediately.
ADC Publicity Secretary in Borno State, Baba Ahmed Mustapha, made the position known in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
Mustapha said the party was informed that five youths had been arrested and detained by security operatives over the T-shirts, which expressed opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, wearing clothing bearing a political message constitutes an expression of political opinion and should not be treated as a criminal act.
He called on the Borno State Commissioner of Police to ensure that security agencies operate professionally and in accordance with the law.
The party also urged civil society organisations and other stakeholders to condemn what it described as the use of security agencies to intimidate citizens over their political views.
NaijaOnPoint reports that the condemnation followed the arraignment of five men by the Borno State Police Command for allegedly printing and wearing the T-shirts.
According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department and verified through court officials, the suspects are 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, stated that the incident occurred on September 25 at about 11am around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
It was learnt that the police charged the five defendants with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
The charges were said to have been brought under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
When the case came up before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Their counsel subsequently filed an application seeking bail for the defendants.
The presiding magistrate adjourned the case until October 6, 2026, for ruling on the bail application, while the substantive trial was fixed for October 26.
The arrests and prosecution have also attracted criticism from Amnesty International, who described the arrests as arbitrary.
Amnesty International argued that peacefully expressing political opinions through clothing constitutes an exercise of fundamental rights and should not, in itself, be treated as a criminal offence.
The organisation said, “Clearly, the intention of this reign of repression in Borno State appears to be selective injustice to curtail the opposition in the political space.
“It is sadly creating a toxic climate of fear that is contrary to the democratic principles of freedom and justice.”
Amnesty International called for the immediate and unconditional release of the five men and urged the authorities to discontinue what it described as a “sham trial based on bogus charges.”
The organisation further said citizens’ right to peacefully express their political opinions should be protected in a democratic society rather than suppressed.
This article first appeared on NaijaOnPoint: https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/09/30/police-under-fire-over-arrest-of-five-youths-wearing-tinubu-must-go-t-shirts/
… Police Under Fire Over Arrest Of Five Youths Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts Read More on … NaijaOnPoint.
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