Northern Protests: FG Investigates Politicians Over Russian Flags

Russian Flags at Protests: 4 Nigerian Politicians Face Investigation

FG Launches Probe into Politicians Linked to Russian Flags at Protests...

Nigerian security agencies investigate politicians for allegedly instigating Russian flag displays during protests, sparking concerns about democracy and external influence.

 

Nigeria's security agencies have launched an investigation into four prominent politicians from the northern region, suspected of instigating the use of Russian flags by protesters demanding an end to bad governance.

According to sources, these politicians from Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano states allegedly encouraged protesters to wave Russian flags, sparking concerns about a potential plot to undermine the country's democracy and promote an unconstitutional change of government.

Russian Flags at Protests: 4 Nigerian Politicians Face Investigation

“You see, four principal actors have been identified in this issue. They are top politicians from Katsina, Kano and Kaduna and the security agencies are closing in on them,” said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“They played prominent roles in the election of last year (2023),” the source added.

Another source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed, “There is evidence of external influence mainly involving the politicians who are conniving with a West African and European country to cause mayhem and promote the use of the flags we are seeing. They want to do here what they did in some other countries.”

The nationwide protests against economic hardship and hunger escalated on Monday, with a surprising twist in some Northern states. Protesters were seen waving Russian flags and chanting anti-government slogans, including “Tinubu must go.”

In Kaduna, protesters waved Russian flags and chanted in Hausa, demanding President Tinubu's resignation. They also showed support for the military, cheering on personnel patrolling the area and shouting slogans like “Tinubu ze soka' kaa'sa,” which means “Tinubu step down, we want soldiers,” indicating a desire for military intervention.

Russia, embroiled in a cold war with Western nations, has been accused of orchestrating unconstitutional regime changes in West African countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

In response to the use of Russian flags during protests, the Nigerian military issued a stern warning on Monday, August 5, declaring it an act of treason. Those involved will face prosecution, and authorities are investigating individuals inciting this behavior, vowing to take severe action against them.

“That is totally unacceptable, that is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such,” said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, after a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Monday, August 5.

The Department of State Services (DSS) revealed on X that it had taken several tailors into custody in Kano State for sewing Russian flags, and also apprehended some individuals suspected of sponsoring their activities.

Following a crackdown by state security personnel, the number of protesters carrying Russian flags significantly dwindled on Tuesday. The operation resulted in arrests and detentions in several states, targeting both protesters and alleged foreign sponsors, effectively curbing the display of Russian flags at demonstrations.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Garba, announced the arrest of several foreign nationals suspected of supporting the protesters, following a security meeting with Governor Abba Yusuf on Tuesday, August 6. Garba warned that security agencies would take decisive action against anyone breaching the state's security protocols.

In a related development, the Gombe State Police Command paraded 10 individuals on Tuesday, August 6, for displaying the Russian flag during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. Meanwhile, Commissioner Garba also announced an extension of the relaxed curfew hours, now spanning from 6 am to 6 pm.

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu convened a private meeting with top intelligence officials at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. The agenda and outcome of the discussion remain undisclosed, but it is believed to be connected to the ongoing nationwide protests.

In attendance were key security figures, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Director-General of the DSS Yusuf Bichi, National Intelligence Agency Director-General Abubakar Ahmed, and Chief of Defence Intelligence Major General Emmanuel, indicating a high-level discussion on the country's security situation.

On Tuesday, August 6, in Abuja, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Bichi, represented by spokesperson Peter Afunanya, announced that the agency had identified key individuals behind the widespread display of Russian flags during the protests. However, Afunanya noted that disclosing their identities at this stage could compromise ongoing investigations, and therefore declined to reveal their names. This announcement was made in the presence of heads of security agencies and Service Chiefs.

“It's not just that children are throwing flags or flying flags. If there is more to that, there are some aspects of our operation that we may not sit before the camera and begin to reel out, either because of their sensitivity, either because we are not supposed to say them now, or because there are ongoing investigations. And we may not say things. that jeopardise those investigations,” Bichi said.

The DSS chief further revealed that some sponsors of the protests had funneled their support through alternative financial channels, using money raised outside of traditional banking systems to fund the demonstrations.

“People are using things other than the currency that you know, channels of transaction to do bitcoins, to do virtual currency, to do all manner of things to raise financing.

“We are attacking all of that. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NIFIU, is doing so much. Our directorate for the process of recovery management is doing so much.”