Hunger Protests: Protesters Wave Russian Flags In Kano, Kaduna , Other Cities…Force PRO, Defence Chief Fume, Promise ‘Drastic Action’…We’ve Nothing To Do With It-Russian Embassy 

The ongoing nationwide hunger protests took a new twist on Monday with some among the protesters shockingly flying Russian flags .

Over 30 people were  arrested in Kano, Kaduna and other states on Monday.

Ahmed Bello , who allegedly helped in producing the flags in question in large quantities, was also arrested and taken into custody in Kano.

 Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Force PRO , Mr. Oluuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this during the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee joint press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

He added that the police are on the trail of other suspects, especially the  person who sponsored mass production of the flags.

Adejobi noted that  the suspects have committed a treasonable felony offence by waving flags belonging to a foreign country in Nigeria.

‘So, we need to set the record straight.  It is important for us to know, so far so good, we have been able to arrest some individuals who were engaging themselves in what I call a treasonable felony.

To carry the flags of a foreign country in another country is a criminal offence. We have them arrested. Just this morning, we have arrested one Ahmed Bello from Kano state for producing a large quantity of Russian flags given to young Nigerians to go and fly for reasons known to him.

We are profiling him. Do we want to get other sponsors like him? As we speak , the same thing has happened in Kaduna.

Thus, as we started this briefing, we’ve been able to arrest 30 of them with the same Russian flags.

The undertones of this protest, based on our intelligence before this commenced on August 1 2024, have begun to manifest. I don’t think the Endbadgovernance protest should degenerate to a level where a foreign country’s flags will be flown in Nigeria. And it’s like spreading from one state to another and another place. Are we still having a protest? That is a big question for all of you’ he said.

The Defence Headquarters also spoke in the same vein  noting that those who waved the Russian flags  have committed treason and will, therefore, be prosecuted.

President Bola Tinubu has also given the security agencies the go-ahead to take drastic actions.

‘We are here to brief Mr President on the situation on ground and we know that since the protest started, all the security agencies are together.

Initially, when the protest started they said it was a peaceful protest but we have realized that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem. And we can see clearly what has happened since it has commenced. Criminals have taken over, a lot of lootings taking place, stealing and all sorts of things are happening.

And besides, all of us have seen it where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is totally unacceptable. We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flags in Nigeria.

That is treasonable offense, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So ,nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.

 For those of them flying flags and if you’ll see a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that, we’re following up with those sponsoring them.

Those who are pushing them because you know, flags were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against that.The President is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria.

And we are all standing here together to show Nigerians that we’re working closely, we are working together with synergy to ensure that there’s still peace and tranquility in Nigeria, that we have assured Mr. President’ Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, submitted while talking to State House correspondents on Monday.

He was  at the Presidential Villa to attend  the National Security Council  meeting that was presided over  by President Bola Tinubu.

Musa has also restated the commitment of the military to democratic governance submitting that nothing will make the military truncate democracy.

‘Also, the issue of coups, Nigeria is a sovereign nation, Nigeria is a democratic nation all security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to strive. We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government. Democracy is what we stand for. Democracy is what we will continue to defend.

We’ve said that clearly that the military is going to step in when it is out of hand, and you can see that for people supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria, Nigeria sovereignty, that is crossing the red line and we will not accept that. And those ones who have done that will go in for the books, and they want to be prosecuted’ he added.

As the  hunger protests  that began on August 1,2024 , continued on Saturday, August 3, 2024, some protesters in Kano state were seeing fly what appeared to be the Russian flags. Viral photos and videos taken in the state showed demonstrators waving the Russian flags as they chanted in Hausa, ‘We don’t want bad government’.  On Monday, protesters in Kaduna were also seen wave the Russian flags and chanting in Hausa, ‘Welcome, Russia; Welcome, Russia’.

They had continued with this act on Sunday.

In the meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria  has clarified and submitted that the Government of the Russian Federation  and  officials of the embassy  had nothing to do with  or have connection with those who waved Russian flags among the protesters.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the embassy said neither the Russian government nor any of its officials are involved in the activities of the protesters.

‘The Government of the Russian Federation, as well as any Russian officials, are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.

As always, we emphasize that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria.

 These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue’  the embassy noted.

The statement also expressed respect for Nigeria’s democratic processes, acknowledging peaceful demonstrations as a legitimate expression of democracy while condemning acts of violence.

‘We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy.

However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence, we strictly condemn them’ the statement added.

A former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Professor . Bola Akinterinwa, gave a new angle to the issue by  submitting  that majority of those who waved the Russian flags are Nigeriens.

‘Those who are carrying the Russian flags, what does it mean to them? I’m not sure they know anything beyond the fact that they are supporting Russia rather than the West.

Are the carriers Nigerians from Kano? My position is that, far from it, they are not likely to be Nigerians. It is only when you consider them Nigerians that you can seriously be more concerned about the implications.

There is a porous border between Nigeria and Niger, and you have the same ethnic community on both sides of the border; there is no true border between Nigeria and Niger. Consequently, all those who are carrying the Russian flags are basically from Niger.

They only came to Kano. These are basically foreigners taking advantage to tell the government of Nigeria that Nigeriens are in support of the military junta’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you