- Protesters waving Russian flags committing treason – Defence Chief
- Police arrest Russian flag supplier, 30 protesters
- We’re not involved, embassy disowns protesters waving Russian flags
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has said that the Nigerian military will not accept anyone pushing or calling for a change of government.
Musa stated this on Monday in a chat with State House correspondents after the National Security Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Defence chief warned those calling for a coup in the country to desist from such, saying that the military had accepted democracy and would not accept any regime change.
He said, “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 who have done that will go in for the books, and they want to be prosecuted.”
He said that individuals flying Russian flags during the nationwide protests are committing treason and will, therefore, be “prosecuted.”
He also announced that it is investigating those instigating this action and will “take serious action” against them.
“That is totally unacceptable… that is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. As Nigerians protested the high cost of living on Saturday, August 3, 2024, some protesters in Kano State were spotted flying what appeared to be the Russian flag. Viral photos and videos taken in the northern state showed demonstrators waving the Russian flag as they chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”
On Monday, protesters in Kaduna were also seen waving the Russian flag and chanting in Hausa, “Welcome, Russia; Welcome, Russia.”
Russia, an Eastern power currently mired in a cold war with the West, has been blamed for several unconstitutional changes of government in West African countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, among others.
The Defence chief added, “For those of them flying flags, and if you see a lot of them, they are kids being pushed to do that. We’re following up with those who are sponsoring them. Those are pushing them because, you know, the flyers were also made. We have identified those areas, and we are going to take serious action against them.
“The President is clear in his instructions for us not to accept anyone who wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria.
“We are warning in clear terms, and the President has also said we should convey this: We will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria… So nobody should allow themselves to be used by any individual.”
Police arrest Russian flag supplier, 30 protesters
Meanwhile, Policemen have arrested no fewer than 30 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters with Russian flags in Kano and other states.
Also, one of the flag producers, identified as Ahmed Bello, was arrested with a large quantity of flags in Kano.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee joint press briefing.
He added that the police were on the trail of other suspects, especially the sponsors of such acts.
Adejobi said the suspects committed a treasonable felony offence by waving a foreign country’s flag in Nigeria.
He said, “So we need to set this record straight. As 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 I speak with you, 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 flag 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.”
We’re not involved, embassy disowns protesters waving Russian flag
However, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria on Monday said its officials were not involved and did not coordinate the activities of those waving Russian flags during #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in parts of the country.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the embassy said neither the Russian government nor any of its officials were involved in the activities of the protesters.
The Russian embassy said, “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 emphasise that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria.”
The embassy attributed the use of Russian symbols by the protesters to personal choices, saying it does not reflect any official policy or position of the Russian government.
“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.
The embassy condemned any potential disruptions or acts of violence that might arise from these events.
“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,” it added
Credit: ThePointng
