Hunger protest: Military talks tough as pro-Russia rallies spread

 

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested no fewer than 30 #Endbadgovernance protesters for waving Russian flags in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi states.

 

The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said 873 other protesters have been arrested by the police, including a tailor, identified as Ahmed Bello, who was arrested with a large number of flags in Kano.

 

This comes as President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to crack down on those flying Russian flags in the country.

 

Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, said this on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after the National Security Council meeting.

 

 

All the service chiefs, including Vice President Kashim Shetima, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser; and Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police; attended the meeting.

 

He said the service chiefs briefed the President on the current security situation in the country.

 

He added that the briefing was necessitated by the ongoing nationwide protests, which resulted into violence in some states.

 

 

“Initially, when the protest started, they said it was a peaceful protest, but we have realised that there are individuals willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem.

 

“And we can see clearly what has happened since it commenced. Criminals have taken over, with a lot of looting, stealing, and all sorts happening,” he said.

 

He said the situation became worrisome as foreign flags were flown within Nigeria’s sovereignty, and that was totally unacceptable.

 

“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.

 

“That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So, nobody should allow himself to be used by any individual,” said the general.

 

He said those flying foreign flags were mainly children who were being pushed to do so.

 

“We’re following up with those who are sponsoring them. Some people are pushing them because the flags were also made. We have identified those behind it, and we are going to take serious action against them.

 

“The President is clear in his instructions that we do not accept anyone who wants to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of Nigeria,” he said.

 

He said all security agencies were ready to defend democracy and the nation’s sovereignty.

 

“We will not accept anyone taking any action, 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,” he said.

 

The CDS said he had earlier stated that the military would step in if the protests got out of hand.

 

“You can see that some subversive elements are pushing individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria; that is crossing the red line, and we will not accept that.

 

In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Tinubu pleaded with the organisers of the nationwide protest to suspend the action as it had gone violent in some states with the attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.

 

Speaking at the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee joint press briefing, in Abuja, on Monday, Adejobi stated that the police were on the trail of other suspects, especially the sponsors of the protesters waving the Russian foreign flags.

 

Protesters in their numbers had been seen waving Russian flags around the busy Kano-Zaria Road, Hadejia Road and near the Nyanya bridge, a suburb of Abuja, among others.

 

Aside from protesting the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, the demonstrating youths also called for the intervention of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

 

Viral photos and videos showed demonstrators waving the flags as they chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”

 

On Monday, protesters in Kaduna were also seen waving the Russian flags and chanting in Hausa, “Welcome, Russia; Welcome, Russia.”

 

The protesters regrouped at the Stadium Roundabout before they embarked on a procession at 10:15am Monday morning, marching along the Junction Road towards Ahmadu Bello Road and chanting in Hausa, “Tinubu ze soka’ kaa’sa,” which translates to, “Tinubu must step-down.”

 

They hailed military personnel, who patrolled the metropolis, chanting, “Tinubu yaa’so’ka, mu’na so soja”, meaning, “Tinubu step down, we want soldiers.”

 

A few of the protesters waved the Russian flag and chanted the Hausa refrain, “Bama so”, meaning “We don’t want hunger.”

 

Another group of the protesters tore the Nigerian flag into shreds.

 

When one of our correspondents asked one of the protesters why they were flying the Russian flag, he said they wanted Nigeria to embrace the Russian government’s style of leadership like some of the countries in the West African region had already done.

 

“The American and British governments are the ones teaching all our leaders how to kill Nigeria’s economy.

 

“We are tired of them. Nigeria is tired of their wickedness and hypocrisy. So, like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, we want Nigeria to embrace Russia. We like Russia’s style. They are better than USA and Britain, who have nothing for the people except our leaders, who are benefitting from them,” the protester stated.

 

Russia, an Eastern power currently mired in a cold war with the West, has been blamed for the unconstitutional changes of government in West African countries Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso and others.

 

The Department of State Services stated on X.com that it had arrested some tailors sewing the Russian flags in Kano State, adding that some of their sponsors had also been nabbed.

 

The DSS post read, “Meanwhile, the Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.”

 

This comes as some governors in the North held emergency meetings with security operatives to stop the protests, while curfews were imposed in Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi states as tempers flared after day five of the protest.

 

As of the time of filing this report, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, was leading a Security Council Emergency Meeting at the Government House.

 

The Governor, while speaking at the opening of the meeting, noted that the meeting became necessary following the destruction of infrastructure in the state.

 

Representatives of various security personnel in the state, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, among others, attended the meeting.

 

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, also held an emergency security meeting with heads of security agencies to assess the situation after protesters unexpectedly took to the streets, waving Russian national flags on Monday.

 

One of our correspondents learnt that following the meeting, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, announced a 24-hour curfew for Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities to maintain law and order.

 

The curfew aims to address the escalating security concerns and prevent further unrest in the affected areas.

 

It was also learnt that the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had held series of security meetings with heads of various security agencies in the state following the anti-hunger protests, which snowballed into violence.

 

A source at the Government House told The PUNCH on Monday that the meetings were part of efforts to review the security situation in the state following the massive looting and destruction of public property by hoodlums in Kano.

 

“For the past three days, the Governor has been holding security meetings to review the security situation in the state,” our source said.

 

Also, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Monday, presided over an expanded emergency security meeting to review the situation and develop a coordinated strategy to prevent further occurrence.

 

The meeting, which had heads of security agencies, commissioners, local government areas chairmen and traditional rulers, focused on reviewing the security situation in the aftermath of the protests as well as various measures to prevent future occurrences and to ensure the safety of residents across the state.

 

Addressing the press after the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, said, “The government recognises that the protest was primarily driven by the current economic hardship. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of our citizens and are committed to addressing these issues promptly. We acknowledge that security is everybody’s business and therefore, urge members of the public to remain supportive of the government and the security agencies in ensuring security of lives and property.

 

“As part of renewed efforts to address the hardships, the government plans to roll out another round of food palliatives to support vulnerable households across the state. This initiative, the 19th in the series, aims to provide immediate relief and ensure that no resident goes hungry during these trying times.”

 

On his part, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, who spoke on behalf of the security agencies, reiterated the commitment of the security agencies to maintaining law and order, assuring residents of their safety while urging the public to remain calm and peaceful.

 

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property. We urge all residents to cooperate with the authorities and refrain from any actions that could lead to violence or disruption. We cannot allow any actions that are capable of jeopardising our peace. We are not against any protest as far as it follows the rules,” Usman added.

 

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Monday also convened a State Security Council Meeting to assess and review the current security situation in the state.

 

This comes after Mutfwang had declared a 24-hour curfew in Jos and Bukuru metropolis.

 

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In a statement signed by the Governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, Mutfwang said the curfew, which was effective from midnight on Sunday, was imposed in the affected areas following reported cases of looting of goods in the Bauchi Road community and Zolo Junction by hoodlums on Sunday.

 

This is even as hoodlums went on rampage destroying some property in different locations – including the University of Jos, which had its gate torched and the Dilimi community, where some shops were vandalised and looted – in Jos, the state capital.

 

The security meeting, chaired by Governor Mutfwang, had in attendance all heads of security agencies in the state, Deputy Governor, Josephine Piyo; Secretary to the State Government, Samuel Jatau; Chief of Staff, Jeremiah Satmark; the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi.

 

Governor Mutfwang stated that it was aimed at evaluating the current security situation and protecting lives and property from the actions of miscreants.

 

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Adesina, who briefed journalists after the meeting, urged residents to strictly adhere to the curfew earlier declared by the state government on Jos and Bukuru metropolis. He reported that 14 individuals had been arrested for violating the curfew.

 

“The nationwide protest had been peaceful in the state until some miscreants hijacked it on Sunday and began looting public and private assets,” Adesina said. “Our resolution at the meeting is to fully and vigorously enforce the curfew. Anyone caught violating it will be prosecuted.”

 

Speaking further on the flag-waving incidents, police spokesman Adejobi said the suspects committed treasonable felony by waving a foreign flag in the country.

 

He said, “So, we need to set this record straight. 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 arrested them. Just this (Monday) morning, we 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.’’

 

He added, “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.”

 

Responding to a demand from the protest organisers for the release of the EndSARS protesters, Adejobi stated that those incarcerated in correctional facilities had been charged with criminal offences.

 

He added, “I want to use this one to even set the records straight. One of the demands of protesters is that the Federal Government should release those who are being incarcerated in prisons for EndSARS protests. We have seven names.

 

“The Take It Back Movement alleged and tackled our statement from the police that we don’t have any protests in any of our facilities in Nigeria.

 

“Those incarcerated are those who are in correctional facilities. They are criminals who have been charged to court and they were charged to court for armed robbery, murder and other criminal offences. No single EndSARS protester is still being incarcerated or kept in any of our facilities in Nigeria.”

 

He added that one of those in prison invaded the Oba of Lagos’ palace and carted away some property.

 

Adejobi said, “We did our findings and we noticed that the names they rolled out are not protesters. Those who went to attack us, I think one or two of them are those who went to the palace. Is Oba’s palace part of the EndSARS protest? Is it a police station? I don’t think the Oba’s palace in Lagos is part of the police facility.”

 

In his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, the President urged protesters not to allow those he called “enemies of democracy” to use them to overthrow his government.

 

“Let nobody misinform and miseducate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you.

 

“Although many hopes have been dashed in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope,” Tinubu said.

 

On Monday, the security operatives in the FCT scaled up the offensive on protesters as they prevented them from having their street demonstration in the nation’s capital.

 

At Karu, the security operatives quickly dispersed the protesters with teargas and arrested three.

 

At Gudu, Area 1 and Gwarinpa areas of the FCT, the protest was disrupted by the security agents.

 

The protesters, however, didn’t converge on the Moshood Abiola National Stadium as security vans barricaded the entrance.

 

This is happening as the DSS arrested Adaramoye Michael, popularly known as Michael Lenin, the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign and one of the leaders of the protest.

 

Lenin was picked up by the DSS around 2 am on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT.

 

The Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said Lenin’s house was raided by DSS, adding that the operatives assaulted him during the arrest.

 

He said, “Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2am. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding for his immediate and unconditional release.”

 

But the service denied arresting Lenin.

 

“The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody,” it said in a post on X.com.

 

But Adenola insisted his colleague is with the secret police.

 

He said, “That is a blatant lie. The activist went missing after his residence was raided. However, when our lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, visited the facility of the SSS, it was confirmed that they have him.”

 

Adeyanju confirmed that Lenin is with the DSS.

 

“They (DSS) are lying,” he said.

 

Lenin was one of the organisers who spoke at a press briefing expressing disappointment with President Tinubu’s broadcast on Sunday.

 

At the briefing, he said the President’s broadcast demonstrated that he was out of touch with reality in the country.

 

Meanwhile, the organisers of the #Endbadgovernance protest have vowed to drag Tinubu before the United Nations and other international organisations over alleged rights abuses.

 

Adenola said the group would soon file their petition against the President.

 

He said, “We are planning to petition the United Nations and other international organisations as soon as possible. These blatant human rights abuses from a civilian dictator will not be tolerated.”

 

The Initiator of the Creative Change Centre, Omole Ibukun, added, “We are planning to do that petition on international platforms.”

 

In a related development, the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party has distanced its members from the protesters spotted waving Russian flags around in Kano and the neighbouring Kaduna State during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria demonstration in the North.

 

The National Publicity of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, in an interview with The PUNCH, said Nigeriens and other nationals from the neighbouring countries were behind the Russian flag protest.

 

Johnson begged the President to address the issue of insecurity as a priority, especially in the North.

 

He said, “It has come to our notice that Russian flags are being carried in Kano. This is not a good sign. We don’t know them, neither are they our members. We understand that it is a sentiment shared by the neighbouring Niger Republic. Apparently, there are quite a few Nigeriens and other nationalities in the area where this happened.

 

“But it is a pointer to the fact that the world is a global village. These issues are intertwined, closure of borders and economic problems among others. The government must look at things from a holistic point of view.

 

“As we are trying to look at the economy, Mr President must seriously address the issue of insecurity. All these things work together and we hope the FG is not showing signs of being overwhelmed by the problems on the ground. We urge the government to turn the page and rejig its strategies to meet the aspirations of Nigerians.”

 

Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has issued a statement denying involvement in the protests following the use of the European country’s flag by some of the protesters.

 

The embassy clarified on Monday that the protesters’ actions did not reflect the official stance of the Russian government.

 

The statement emphasised Russia’s commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, including Nigeria, and reassured that it respects the sovereignty of the country.

 

It partly read, “The Embassy has noted the reports in Nigerian media and the circulation of videos and images in digital media depicting protesters in northern states of the country carrying Russian flags and chanting slogans to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

“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. 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 on the issue.

 

“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.”