The suspects were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21. The FIR stated that the incident occurred on September 25 around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
Police accused the men of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery, alleging that they printed and wore the shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace. The charges were reportedly brought under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
Reports indicate that the five men were taken before a Chief Magistrate Court in Maiduguri, where they pleaded not guilty and were subsequently remanded in custody. Details of the specific terms of the remand order have not been widely reported.
The arrests have drawn criticism from Amnesty International, which said wearing a T-shirt expressing political opposition should not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence. The organisation called for the men’s release and an end to what it described as the criminalisation of peaceful political expression.
The Borno State Police Command had not publicly responded to the criticism at the time of the reports. The allegations against the five men remain subject to the court process.
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