Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has denied ordering the arrest of protesters using the slogan “Tinubu Must Go”, saying his remarks were directed at criminals and individuals threatening peace and security in the state.
Zulum’s clarification followed a statement by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, which demanded an explanation over a viral video in which the governor was allegedly heard ordering the arrest and detention of people expressing the slogan.
The ADC campaign council, through its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the reported directive was concerning, particularly because Zulum had previously denied ordering the arrest of people wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.
Responding, Zulum’s spokesman, Dauda Iliya, described the ADC’s allegations as “unprofessional” and accused the party of misrepresenting the governor’s remarks.
Iliya said the governor made the comments during a media chat with journalists in Maiduguri while addressing a rise in social vices and criminal activities threatening the state’s peace and stability.
According to him, Zulum was referring to young men wearing shirts depicting knives and clubs, rather than members of the ADC, the “Tinubu Must Go” movement or any opposition group.
He said Borno had experienced a rise in gangsterism, kidnapping of underage girls, illegal abortions, phone snatching and other social vices following more than a decade of Boko Haram insurgency.
Iliya added that the state government established an Anti-Vices security outfit to tackle the problems and claimed that Maiduguri and its environs had since recorded a decline in criminal activities.
The governor’s spokesman further accused some media outlets of taking part of Zulum’s comments out of context to portray him as heavy-handed.
He said Zulum had not mentioned the ADC, the “Tinubu Must Go” group or any opposition party during the media engagement, stressing that the governor’s comments were focused on security, peace and order.
Iliya urged political actors to exercise restraint when discussing security issues in Borno, noting the state’s history of insurgency and the importance of protecting its recent peace and stability.
