Nigerian State Security Services have arrested seven Polish citizens over their suspected roles in the production and waving of Russian flags in the some parts of northern Nigeria during the current hunger protest.
This was contained in a statement by the Department of State Security, DSS, spokesperson, Peter Afunanya,
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, he confirmed the arrests of the Polish citizens to Reuters, He, however, emphasized that Polish citizens were not being targeted.
The spokesperson noted that the suspects were arrested as part of efforts to enforce security in Kano State.
Recall that Kano State witnessed violent protest during the #EndBadGovernance protest. The protesters had engaged in looting, vandalism and wanton destruction of property in the State.
As a measure to curb the activities of the hoodlums, the State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew.
Reporting the incident, Reuters also quoted Stanislaw Gulinski, the Polish consul to Nigeria, as confirming the arrests. This was disclosed at a meeting he and other diplomats had with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar.
Recall the IVNTV NEWS reported the display of Russian flags by some protesters in northern Nigerian cities such as Kano and Kaduna.
Some of the protesters who carried the flags told journalists that they did so to spite the Nigerian government. They had accused the Government of implementing policies that have worsened the economic situation for millions of citizens.
Recall also that the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has denied any responsibility for the waving of its flags by the protesters.
In a statement by the Ambassador, he stated that the flags are personal choices of the protesters. And, therefore, “do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government.”
Nigerian protesters carrying Russian flags over the weekend were openly calling for a coup d’état by the army.
However, the Nigerian Government has described the display of foreign flags and the calls for military coup by some protesters as treason. It vowed that those individuals and their sponsors would be arrested.
Recall that scores of such protesters and the tailors who sewed the flags have been arrested.
Under Nigerian law, treason is a capital offence. The police said individuals engaged in the act will be treated and “charged accordingly.”
On Wednesday, in the meeting with foreign ambassadors in Nigeria, the Federal Government formally cautioned the foreign aides. The Government asked them to refrain from interfering in the ongoing nationwide protests.
Addressing the ambassadors, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar said, “Government will take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria found to have directly or indirectly supported protesters by whatever means. Or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of this country.”
Source: Premium Times
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