In a developing story from Maiduguri, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State is at odds with the state police over the recent arrest of five youths connected to the 'Tinubu Must Go' campaign. The police assert that the individuals were detained for public disturbances and possession of illicit substances, while the ADC claims the police account is misleading.

The arrests occurred on September 25, 2026, during a routine patrol at the West End Roundabout, where police apprehended the suspects, identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed. According to the police, the suspects were found with items including 15 wraps of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, a pair of scissors, and two T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase 'Tinubu Must Go.'

The Borno State Police Command, through its spokesman ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, stated that the suspects' actions were capable of causing public unrest. Following their arrest, the suspects underwent preliminary investigations before being charged in court.

However, Kolo Bukar, the ADC Chairman in Borno, has vehemently rejected the police's narrative. He characterized the police's claims as false and accused them of misrepresenting the events surrounding the arrests. Bukar clarified that only four of the arrested individuals were ADC members, while the fifth was not affiliated with the party. He identified Adam Umar Gubio as the leader of the 'Tinubu Must Go' movement and a supporter of the ADC, who was among those detained.

Bukar contended that the group had received clearance from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a peaceful gathering at the ADC secretariat. He asserted that the event proceeded without incident, with participants wearing the campaign T-shirts. The ADC chairman alleged that the trouble began when police arrested one of their members who had gone to retrieve T-shirts that had been confiscated. He claimed that other party members who attempted to secure the release of their colleague were also arrested.

Bukar expressed outrage over the police's allegations, stating, "It’s very shameful for the Nigerian police to say that those arrested were found with drugs and dangerous weapons. This is completely a lie. These people went to bail their colleague who was arrested by the police, and they were all subsequently detained." He maintained that the arrests were a direct result of the protest rather than any alleged criminal activity.

In response, the police have reiterated that the political messages on the T-shirts were not the reason for the arrests. They emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force operates as a professional and impartial institution, asserting that it does not discriminate based on political beliefs. The police urged the public to rely on verified information and allow the judicial process to unfold based on the evidence presented.

As the situation develops, the conflicting accounts from the ADC and the police highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding political expression in Nigeria. The court is now expected to address the allegations against the five suspects, with both sides awaiting a resolution to the matter.