Amnesty International has criticized the Nigerian Police Force for claiming that five men arrested in Maiduguri while wearing "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts were in possession of drugs. The organization described the explanation as an attempt to justify the men's unlawful detention. The police had denied that the motive of the arrest was political, stating that they are a professional, non-partisan institution.
The Borno State Police Command alleged that the suspects conspired to print and wear the T-shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace. They also claimed that the suspects were in possession of drugs. However, Amnesty dismissed the drug allegation and accused the police of introducing a new narrative to justify the continued detention of the men.
Amnesty demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the five men - Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed. The organization insisted that expressing a dissenting political opinion is not a criminal offence. Amnesty argued that citizens have the right to support or oppose political parties and candidates without fear of arrest or reprisal.
The organization said that linking the five men to drugs and other crimes was a "familiar playbook" aimed at justifying political repression and undermining democratic freedoms. Amnesty maintained that, in the absence of a recognisable criminal offence arising from the men's political expression, the new drug allegation appeared to be an additional attempt to build a case against them.
The five men were reportedly arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Maiduguri, where they pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers subsequently applied for bail, with the court expected to rule on the application on October 6, while the substantive case was adjourned to October 26. The police allegations and Amnesty's characterisation of the arrests remain contested.
Amnesty also called on the Nigeria Police and the Borno State Government to end arbitrary arrests and detention of opposition members and supporters. The organization warned that continued arrests over peaceful political expression could further restrict civic space and freedom of expression in the state.
The men's arrest and detention have sparked outrage, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the police's handling of the situation. The incident has raised questions about the limits of free speech and the role of the police in maintaining public order.
Key points
- Amnesty International demands the immediate release of the five men arrested for wearing "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts.
- The police allege that the suspects were in possession of drugs, which Amnesty has dismissed as an attempt to justify their detention.
- The incident has raised concerns about the limits of free speech and the role of the police in maintaining public order in Nigeria.
