Dozens of youths have taken to the streets of Maiduguri, Borno State, wearing identical white T-shirts emblazoned with the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go,” in a fresh public display of opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The youths were seen in a video circulating on social media on Saturday marching together through parts of the Borno State capital while displaying the political message on their shirts.
The latest development comes barely days after five men were arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri over T-shirts carrying the same “Tinubu Must Go” inscription, adding a fresh twist to the controversy surrounding political expression and opposition activities in the state.
The circumstances surrounding Saturday’s gathering, including whether the youths obtained formal approval from the police or other security agencies before embarking on the march, could not immediately be independently established.
The demonstration has also renewed attention on the case of five men arrested on September 25 around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
The five men were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed.
They were subsequently arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri on allegations including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Their bail application is expected to be ruled on October 6, while October 26 has been fixed for the substantive case.
The arrests triggered criticism from opposition politicians and rights groups, with the Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) describing the arrests as an infringement on the youths’ freedom of expression.
The ADC said the youths were exercising their right to express a political opinion and demanded their immediate release.
The police, however, have denied that the five men were arrested simply because they were wearing the anti-Tinubu shirts.
In a statement issued after the arrests generated controversy, Borno State Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said the suspects were arrested during a routine patrol around the West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
According to the police, officers allegedly recovered 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, scissors and two T-shirts bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription.
The command said the suspects were arrested over allegations of inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit drugs.
The police maintained that it was a professional and non-partisan institution and did not discriminate against people based on their political affiliations or viewpoints.
The ADC has rejected the police account.
The party’s Borno State Chairman, Kolo Bukar, alleged that the youths had obtained clearance from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to hold a peaceful gathering at the ADC secretariat around the West End Roundabout.
He further alleged that the arrests followed the gathering and that other youths were detained after going to the police station to seek the release of a colleague.
The police’s account and the ADC’s allegations remain contested.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has also denied ordering the arrest of the youths.
Zulum, reacting to reports linking his administration to the arrests, said he neither ordered nor authorised the arrest of opposition politicians or people criticising his administration.
The governor said his focus remained on rebuilding Borno State after years of Boko Haram insurgency.
The emergence of another group of youths publicly wearing the same “Tinubu Must Go” shirts has now added to the political controversy in Maiduguri, particularly coming only days after the earlier arrests and court proceedings.
The fresh display also comes as political activities intensify across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties and political groups increasingly mobilising supporters and expressing criticism of the Tinubu administration.
The video circulating online shows the youths moving together through the streets while displaying the “Tinubu Must Go” message.
However, the identities of the youths involved, the exact location of the march and whether the gathering was formally authorised by security agencies could not be independently verified as of press time.
The latest development is expected to further fuel debate over freedom of expression, public-order enforcement and the treatment of opposition political activities as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections.