The Borno State Police Command has clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest and prosecution of five men amid reports that they were detained for wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The Command said the political message on the T-shirts was not the reason for the arrests, explaining that the suspects were picked up over alleged activities considered capable of disrupting public peace.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, saying the suspects were arrested at about 6pm on September 25, 2026, during a routine patrol around the West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
According to the police, the five men were allegedly engaged in activities linked to disturbance of public peace and thuggery when they were arrested.
Items reportedly 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 inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The Command said the suspects were subjected to preliminary investigation, during which their statements were obtained, before the matter was taken before a competent court for further proceedings.
The clarification followed reports suggesting that the five men had been arrested because of the political message on their clothing.
The police maintained that the Nigeria Police Force remained a professional and non-partisan institution that does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of their political affiliation or views.
“The political message on the shirts was not the reason for their arrest,” the Command said, adding that taking the matter before the court would allow the appropriate judicial authorities to examine the facts and evidence in accordance with due process.
