Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, witnessed a fresh show of opposition to President Bola Tinubu on Saturday as dozens of youths took to the streets wearing white T-shirts boldly carrying the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
A video making the rounds on social media showed the youths marching together through parts of the city in what appeared to be a coordinated display of solidarity and political dissent.
The development came barely days after five men were arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri in connection with T-shirts bearing the same anti-Tinubu message.
The latest street action has raised speculation that the youths were expressing solidarity with the five defendants while also sending a fresh political message ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The identities of the organisers and the circumstances surrounding Saturday’s gathering were not immediately clear.
It was also not immediately established whether the march had obtained any formal approval from the security authorities.
The development comes against the backdrop of a growing controversy over the arrest of five men on September 25 around the West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
The men — Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — were subsequently arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court I, Maiduguri.
They were charged with offences including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Their case has generated strong reactions from opposition politicians and rights groups, who argue that citizens should be free to express their political opinions without intimidation.
Amnesty International condemned the arrests, describing the detention of the men over the political message on the shirts as an infringement on freedom of expression and calling for their release.
The African Democratic Congress has similarly accused the authorities of attempting to intimidate opposition supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party argued that calling for a political office holder to leave office constitutes political expression and, by itself, should not be treated as a criminal offence.
But the police have strongly disputed the claim that the five men were arrested simply for wearing or possessing the anti-Tinubu shirts.
Borno State Police spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso, said the suspects were intercepted during a routine patrol around West End Roundabout and were allegedly found with items including 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.
According to the police, the suspects were investigated over allegations including inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit drugs before the matter was taken to court.
The command also maintained that the Nigeria Police Force is a professional and non-partisan institution which does not discriminate against citizens because of their political affiliation or viewpoint.
However, the opposition has rejected the police explanation, insisting that the arrests were connected to political dissent.
The controversy has also drawn Governor Babagana Zulum into the storm, with the Borno governor denying that he ordered or authorised the arrest of opposition supporters or people criticising his administration.
With Saturday’s fresh appearance of youths in identical “Tinubu Must Go” shirts, the political controversy appears far from over.
The development comes as opposition parties and political groups intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, raising fresh questions over how authorities will respond to similar demonstrations and political messages in the months ahead.
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