The Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has criticised the arrest and detention of five youths in Maiduguri over their alleged use of T-shirts carrying the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Baba Ahmed Mustapha, disclosed the position in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
According to Mustapha, the ADC was informed that the five youths were taken into custody by security operatives after they were seen wearing the T-shirts, which conveyed opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
The party official described the arrests as an infringement on the youths’ right to freedom of expression and demanded their immediate release.
Mustapha argued that displaying a political message on clothing amounts to an expression of political opinion and should not, in itself, be regarded as a criminal offence.
The ADC further appealed to the Borno State Commissioner of Police to ensure that security agencies carry out their duties professionally and within the limits of the law.
It also called on civil society organisations and other stakeholders to speak out against what it described as the deployment of security agencies to intimidate citizens because of their political views.
