Nigeria: Zulum - I Didn't Order Arrest of Opposition Politicians

What the report says

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has pushed back against a statement from the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council that accused him of ordering arrests tied to a viral video and a “Tinubu Must Go” slogan. Through his spokesperson, Malam Dauda Iliya, Zulum said the party’s reaction was misguided, poorly framed and based on a misreading of his remarks.

According to the Daily Trust report distributed by AllAfrica, the controversy began after Zulum’s recent media chat in Maiduguri, where he discussed security concerns, rising social vices and efforts by his administration to maintain peace in Borno. His office said he was referring to violent behavior and criminal activity, not to any opposition party or campaign group. The governor’s team also said Borno had faced serious insecurity in the aftermath of the Boko Haram insurgency, including gang activity and other crimes, and that state authorities created an anti-vices security outfit to respond.

The ADC had portrayed the governor’s comments as a threat to opposition politics, but Zulum’s camp denied that interpretation and said no political group was singled out. The dispute highlights how security messaging in Borno can quickly become politically sensitive, especially as parties prepare for election season. The governor’s office said maintaining order and stability remains a priority and urged restraint in political commentary on security issues.