In a swift response to the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, the Nigerian Police Force has arrested at least 30 protesters found waving Russian flags in Kano and other states. Additionally, a Russian flag producer, Ahmed Bello, was apprehended in Kano with a large quantity of flags.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, at the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee joint press briefing in Abuja on Monday the suspects have committed a treasonable felony by waving a foreign country’s flag in Nigeria. Adejobi emphasized that the police are actively pursuing other suspects and sponsors of these acts.
The Force PRO 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 arrests come as the protests, which began on August 1, 2024, have taken a concerning turn with the emergence of foreign flags. Adejobi questioned the true nature of the protests, asking, “Are we still having a protest?” as the situation continues to unfold.
