The Nigeria Police Force in Borno State has charged five men to court for allegedly wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The men are Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed.
According to charges seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the suspects were accused of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbing public peace and thuggery.
The charges alleged that the five men conspired to print and wear the T-shirts with the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” with the intention of causing a breach of public peace at the West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri.
The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code Law.
Amnesty International condemned the arrests and detention, arguing that wearing a T-shirt expressing political opposition does not amount to a criminal offence.
The rights group called for the release of the five men and the withdrawal of the charges.
Amnesty also accused the Borno State Government and police of targeting opposition parties and their supporters through arrests and detentions, urging Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration to uphold freedom of expression and association.
The Borno State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the arrests and charges as of the time of the report.
PREMIUM TIMES said it contacted the command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, for comment, but he did not answer calls or respond to a text message.
