Governor Zulum Warns ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Protesters in Borno Will Face Arrest and Detention

Maiduguri, Borno State — October 4, 2026

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has issued a strong warning against protesters wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts, declaring that anyone found engaging in such activities in the state will be arrested and detained.

Speaking in an interview, Zulum said his administration will not tolerate actions that undermine peace and security in Borno. He specifically criticised individuals wearing T-shirts displaying signs of arms and knives while claiming affiliation with 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,” the governor stated.

Zulum warned that failure to act could render Maiduguri uninhabitable. “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. I am telling you,” he said.

He noted that some areas of the city have become difficult to access at night due to the activities of certain groups. “You cannot enter some area around 11 o’clock. Those people, we will deal with all of them within ten minutes,” Zulum added.

The governor expressed concern over the impact of violence on residents, including women, and insisted that political considerations should not hinder action against those responsible for unrest. “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.

Zulum vowed to deal with those behind recent disturbances over the past five days and indicated that some measures would be taken without prior public announcement. “Anyone we catch will be arrested and detained,” he declared. “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.”

The governor questioned the effectiveness of past protests and urged those interested in politics to pursue their ambitions through democratic channels rather than violence.

The comments come days after five men — Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — were arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri over T-shirts bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription. They face charges of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under the Borno State Penal Code. They pleaded not guilty; a ruling on their bail application is expected on October 6, with the substantive case fixed for October 26.

Police said the men were arrested during a routine patrol and that officers recovered suspected illicit drugs alongside the T-shirts. Opposition groups and rights activists have questioned the prosecution, while Amnesty International and others have raised concerns. A petition has also been sent to the Inspector-General of Police seeking a review of the case.

Fresh demonstrations by youths in white “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts have since been reported in Maiduguri, seen by some as a show of solidarity with those arrested and opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.