Amnesty condemns police arrest of Borno youths wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and detention of five men by the Nigeria Police Force in Borno State for allegedly wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The human rights organisation said the five men – Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed, were arrested in Maiduguri over their expression of political dissent.
In a statement, Amnesty described the arrests as arbitrary, arguing that wearing a T-shirt expressing opposition to President Bola Tinubu does not constitute a criminal offence.
The organisation also criticised the decision to remand the men in prison on an allegation that they intended to “cause breach of public peace within West End Roundabout Community, Maiduguri.”
Amnesty said political opposition and the expression of political views are protected rights and should not be restricted to supporters of any particular political party.
It called on the authorities to immediately release the five men and abandon any prosecution based on what it described as “bogus charges.”
According to the organisation, the arrests form part of what it characterised as an increasing pattern of arrests and detentions targeting opposition parties and their supporters in Borno State.
“Authorities in Borno State have resorted to the familiar playbook of using the law to criminalize peaceful dissent and silence opposition,” Amnesty said.
The organisation also urged the Borno State Government, led by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, to respect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and association and to uphold the rule of law.
Amnesty further called on the police and state authorities to refrain from using state powers to suppress peaceful political dissent.
