Nigeria’s security agencies are investigating at least four politicians from the country’s northern part over the use of Russian flags by #EndBadGovernance protesters.
Multiple sources told newsmen that the political bigwigs, who hail from Katsina, Kaduna and Kano States, were principal actors who instigated the use of Russian flags among demonstrators in the North to fan the embers for an unconstitutional regime change.
According to one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter: “Four principal actors have been identified in this issue. They are top politicians from Katsina, Kano and Kaduna. They played prominent roles in the election of last year (2023)”, but added that the security agencies are closing-in on them”.
Another source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told newsmen, “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”.
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, and among others.
The nationwide protests against hardship and hunger took a dangerous dimension on Monday, with protesters in some Northern states waving the Russian flag as they chanted: “Tinubu must go.”
Protesters in Kaduna were seen waving the Russian flag and chanting in Hausa, “Tinubu ya sauka’ ?asa”, which translates to: “Tinubu must step down”. They also hailed military personnel, who patrolled the metropolis, chanting, “Tinubu ka sauka, muna son soja”, meaning: “Tinubu step down, we want soldiers”.
Recall that the Nigerian military on Monday said persons flying the Russian flag were committing treason and will, therefore, be “prosecuted”. It also said it is investigating those who are instigating the move 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,” 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.
The Department of State Services (DSS) stated, on X.com, that it had arrested some tailors sewing Russian flags in Kano State and that some of their sponsors had also been nabbed.
However, protesters with the flag reduced drastically on Tuesday after State security personnel clamped down on them in several States, arresting them and their perceived foreign sponsors.
Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Garba, disclosed that some foreigners suspected of being behind the protesters were arrested.
Garba, who stated this after a security meeting with Governor Abba Yusuf on Tuesday, vowed that the Police and other security agencies would clamp down on anyone who violated the security regulations of the State.
Meanwhile, the DSS said it had identified some masterminds of the prevalent Russian flags during the protests. Its boss, Bichi, represented by Service spokesman Peter Afunanya, stated this at a joint media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja with Heads of security agencies and Service Chiefs. However, he argued that revealing the identities of those behind the act could jeopardise investigations.
“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 added that some sponsors funded the protests through monies raised outside the conventional banking system”, but said, “We are attacking all of that. The NIFIU is doing so much. Our directorate for the process of recovery management is doing so much”.
On its part, the Nigeria Immigration Service said it had placed sponsors of #EndBadGovernance protests residing outside the country on its watch list. Its Comptroller-General, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, who disclosed this, added that the persons on the list would be handed over to the appropriate agencies whenever they arrived in Nigeria. She added that the Service had stepped-up surveillance to prevent foreign intervention in the country.
Also, the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, said the Police had equally uncovered some sponsors of the protests living in the Diaspora.
The Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the security operatives were after those he identified as “enemies of the country”.
