The Borno State Police Command in Nigeria has defended its arrest of five youths who wore T-shirts with the inscription "Tinubu Must Go". According to the police, the suspects were apprehended on September 25, 2026, at around 6:00 p.m. during a routine township patrol. The arrest was made after the suspects allegedly engaged in conduct that could cause a public breach of peace.
The police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, stated that the suspects were found with 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, and a pair of scissors. The five suspects, identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed, were also wearing two T-shirts bearing the "Tinubu Must Go" inscription.
The police have attributed the arrest to alleged drug possession, thuggery, inciting public disturbance, and possession of illicit substances. The Command's Spokesman dismissed the political narrative that the arrest was an arbitrary clampdown on free speech. Instead, he maintained that the suspects were arrested over legitimate concerns about their behavior.
The suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, and thuggery. These offences are said to run contrary to Sections 60, 78, 79, and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code. The police added that bringing the matter before a court of law was necessary to allow the judicial process to take its natural course.
The case is now before a court of law, with the presiding judge adjourning the matter to October 6, 2026, for a ruling on bail. The substantive trial is slated for October 26, 2026. The police have urged members of the public to rely on verified information rather than unconfirmed narratives, allowing the court to determine the outcome based strictly on facts and evidence.
The Nigeria Police Force has described itself as a professional, non-partisan institution that does not discriminate against persons on the basis of political affiliation or viewpoint. The Command remains committed to the protection of fundamental human rights, the rule of law, due process, accountability, and transparency in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The incident has sparked a backlash, with critics taking to conventional and social media platforms to describe the arrest as an arbitrary clampdown on free speech. However, the police have maintained that their actions were justified and that the suspects were arrested over legitimate concerns about their behavior and alleged possession of illicit substances.
Key points
- The police arrested five men for alleged drug possession, thuggery, and public disturbance.
- The suspects were wearing T-shirts with the inscription "Tinubu Must Go".
- The case is now before a court of law, with a bail ruling expected on October 6, 2026.
