Don’t Drag Zulum Into ‘ Tinubu Must Go’ Arrests — He Was Not Aware, Never Gave Directive — Gov Media Aide

The controversy surrounding the arrest and arraignment of five persons in Maiduguri over the ” Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts has generated debate, with commentaries attempting to directly link the development to the Borno State Government and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

But before conclusions are drawn, there is a fundamental question: Was Governor Zulum aware of the arrests, and did he order them?

According to Yusuf Ali, Media Aide to Governor Mai Mala Buni who wrote from Damaturu, in a conversation with one of Governor Zulum’s media aides, Abdurahman Ahmed Bundi, he was told that Governor Zulum was not aware of the arrests and did not give any such directive. The aide also shared the statement issued by the Borno State Police Command.

That clarification is important because the police account itself does not say the suspects were arrested on the instruction of the Governor or the Borno State Government.

According to the Police Command, the five suspects were apprehended during a routine patrol around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri on September 25, 2026. The police said the allegations against them involved conduct capable of causing public disturbance, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit substances. The suspects were subsequently arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

The Borno chapter of the African Democratic Congress has challenged the police account, while Amnesty International has also questioned the explanation.

“What is difficult to justify, however, is the immediate leap from ‘five persons were arrested by the police’ to ‘Governor Zulum ordered their arrest because they wore Tinubu】 Must Go T-shirts.’ Those are two different claims, and the second requires evidence,” Yusuf Ali wrote.

He argued that political disagreements are normal in a democracy and citizens have the right to express opinions, while law-enforcement must explain arrests. Where there is disagreement, facts should be established rather than assigning responsibility without evidence.

“It is therefore important to separate the actions of the police from the actions of the State Government, unless evidence establishes a direct connection,” he said.

“Governor Zulum should not automatically be made the author of every action undertaken by a security agency in Borno State simply because he is the Governor and the Chief Security Officer of the state.”

He said the issue before the public should be straightforward: What exactly happened at West End Roundabout? Why were the five men arrested? What evidence does the police have? And was there ever a directive from the Governor?

“Until evidence establishes such a directive, attributing the arrests to Governor Zulum personally is an allegation, not an established fact,” he added.