Zulum Warns ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Protesters as Arrests, Political Tensions Escalate in Borno

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has issued a fresh warning against activities he says could threaten peace and security in the state, saying authorities will arrest and detain anyone caught engaging in conduct capable of triggering unrest.

The warning comes amid renewed demonstrations in Maiduguri by youths wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go”, intensifying an already contentious dispute over the arrest and prosecution of five men who wore similar shirts.

Zulum, speaking during an interview, said his administration would not permit political activities, group affiliations or displays involving weapons to undermine security in a state still recovering from years of Boko Haram insurgency.

Zulum: ‘Anyone We Catch Will Be Arrested’

The governor said authorities were particularly concerned about individuals displaying symbols associated with weapons while claiming membership of particular groups.

“But you put it in writing on the singlet. You wear a T-shirt showing a sign of arms and knives. You wear the singlet and move around claiming to belong to a particular group,” Zulum said.

He warned that failure to confront what he described as growing disorder could have serious consequences for Maiduguri.

“I swear, if we stand by and watch these things happen without taking actions. I swear, this town will not remain habitable if this continues,” he said.

Zulum claimed that some parts of the city had become difficult to access at night because of the activities of groups he described as problematic.

“You cannot enter some area around 11 o’clock,” he said, adding that security authorities could deal with those responsible if there was sufficient cooperation among the relevant institutions.

Governor Cites Impact on Residents

Zulum also pointed to the effect of insecurity on ordinary residents, including women.

“We have seen people being destroyed, and we are witnessing these things, including women being affected, right before our eyes,” he said.

The governor argued that political considerations should not prevent authorities from taking action against individuals suspected of contributing to violence or disorder.

“People will be killed. But today, because of politics, someone will say, ‘Leave our boys alone,’ even when our own people are responsible for what is happening,” he said.

He added that his administration intended to take action against those it believes were responsible for disturbances in Maiduguri in recent days.

“We will deal with those responsible for what has been happening here over the past five days,” Zulum said.

The governor further disclosed that some security measures could be implemented without prior public announcement.

“That is why we will rise up and take action. There are measures we will take without necessarily announcing them to anyone. Anyone we catch will be arrested and detained,” he said.

‘We Will Not Allow Another Conflict’

Zulum stressed that his warning was about protecting the state rather than defending him personally.

“We will not tolerate anyone who wants to undermine peace in Borno. This is not about me personally. We will not allow anyone to instigate another conflict, attack others, or cause unrest,” he said.

He also questioned what previous protests had achieved and urged those seeking political change to use electoral and democratic channels.

“What was achieved through all these acts of protest that were done years ago?” he asked.

“What has violence achieved? If you want to contest an election, go ahead. If you want to engage in politics, do politics.”

Five Men Face Charges Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Shirts

The governor’s latest comments come days after five men were arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri in connection with T-shirts carrying the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”

The suspects Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

They pleaded not guilty.

A ruling on their bail application was expected on October 6, while the substantive case was adjourned to October 26.

The arrests have generated controversy, particularly over whether the political message on the shirts formed part of the basis for their prosecution.

Police Deny Arresting Men Over Anti-Tinubu Shirts

The Borno State Police Command has denied that the men were arrested simply because they wore anti-Tinubu shirts.

According to the police, the suspects were intercepted during a routine patrol around West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.

Police alleged that officers recovered 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, scissors and two “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.

The command said the men were arrested over allegations including inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit drugs.

The defence has disputed that account.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) reportedly rejected the police version, alleging that the youths had obtained clearance from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to hold a peaceful gathering around the West End Roundabout.

Those competing accounts have yet to be conclusively resolved in court.

Zulum Previously Denied Ordering Arrests

Zulum had earlier denied ordering the arrest of the five men or opposition politicians.

The governor said he was unaware of the arrests at the time and maintained that his priority was rebuilding Borno after years of insurgency.

His latest comments, however, signal a tougher position toward activities he believes could threaten public order.

Fresh ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Demonstration

The controversy has now been followed by another demonstration in Maiduguri.

Dozens of youths were reportedly seen wearing white T-shirts bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription and marching together in a video circulated on X.

The gathering was viewed as an expression of solidarity with the arrested men and opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the circumstances surrounding the latest gathering including whether organisers obtained formal approval from security agencies could not immediately be independently established.

Rights Groups Question Prosecution

The arrests have attracted criticism from opposition figures and rights advocates, including Amnesty International, which has raised questions about the prosecution of the suspects.

Lawyer and rights activist Hamza N. Dantani has also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, calling for a review of the arrests and prosecution.

Dantani reportedly raised concerns about what he described as possible selective enforcement of the law by the Borno State Police Command.

The dispute now presents authorities with a delicate security and civil-liberties challenge: while the government maintains that maintaining peace in a state emerging from prolonged insurgency requires firm action, critics argue that peaceful political expression must not be criminalised.

For the arrested men, the central legal question will ultimately be whether the prosecution can establish the alleged offences independently of the political message printed on their clothing.

For Governor Zulum, the immediate challenge is to maintain public order without allowing legitimate political dissent to become conflated with criminal conduct.

And for Borno residents, the larger question remains whether the state can protect the hard won gains in security while preserving the constitutional space for peaceful political expression.