By Editor
Amnesty International has rejected the police claim that five men arrested in Maiduguri while wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts were in possession of drugs, describing it as an attempt to justify unlawful detention.
The Borno State Police Command had denied political motive, with PRO Nahum Daso Kenneth stating the Force is professional and non-partisan. Police alleged the men conspired to print and wear the shirts to breach public peace at West End Roundabout.
In its statement on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Amnesty dismissed the drug allegation as a “familiar playbook” to justify political repression and demanded immediate unconditional release of the five men – Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed.
Amnesty said the police first accused the men of inciting disturbance and thuggery, now linking them to drugs, which shows a desperate attempt to punish peaceful political activity. It insisted expressing dissenting opinion is not a crime.
The men were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Maiduguri and pleaded not guilty, with bail ruling expected October 6 and substantive case adjourned to October 26.
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