Yesterday, the Armed Forces strongly defended the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa issued a stern warning that displaying a foreign country’s flag in Nigeria is considered treasonous and will not be tolerated.
He emphasized that any efforts to undermine the democratic process would be firmly resisted.
Speaking to reporters at the State House in Abuja after a National Security Council meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, General Musa reaffirmed the military’s commitment to preventing any undemocratic changes in government.
The President had rescheduled the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to accommodate the security council discussion, which was convened to address protests related to the economic crisis.
The meeting included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the three service chiefs—Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja (Chief of Army Staff), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff). Also present were Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Bichi, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Adewale Adeniyi, and Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Kemi Nanna Nandap.
General Musa condemned the recent display of the Russian flag by protesters in Kano and Kaduna, calling it a “red line” and vowing to hold accountable those involved in this treasonous act.
In response to these events, several protesters and tailors involved in the flag displays were arrested by security forces. The Russian Embassy in Abuja has disclaimed any connection to the protesters, asserting that the country was not involved in their actions.
Gen. Musa said: “ Nigeria is a sovereign nation. Nigeria is a democratic nation. All security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to thrive.
“We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or 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.”
Gen. Musa warned that individuals or groups flying foreign flags in Nigeria will be treated as enemies of the state.
He explained that the military had identified areas where foreign flags were flown, adding that culprits would be prosecuted.
Gen. Musa said: “Besides, all of us have seen it where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria and that is totally unacceptable. We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.
“That is treasonable offense and it will be viewed and treated as such. So, nobody should allow himself to be used by any individual.
“For those of them flying flags, and if you see, a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that. We are following up with those ones that are sponsoring them, those who are pushing them because you know the flags were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against that.”
He added: “We have said that clearly, that the military is going to step in when it is out of bound. You can see subversive elements pushing individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria. That is crossing the red line and we will not accept that and those ones who have done that will go in for the books and they’re going to be prosecuted.”
Frowning at the protests, Gen. Musa warned individuals and groups planning to disrupt Nigeria’s peace and tranquility, insisting that the military will not accept such actions.
He said the President has given clear instructions to security forces to maintain the peace and stability in the country.
Gen. Musa, who said security agencies were working to ensure that peace and tranquility prevail, warned potential troublemakers to desist from their plans.
He said: “Initially, when the riot started, they said it was a peaceful riot. But we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem and we can see clearly what has happened since it has commenced.
“Criminals have taken over, a lot of looting taking place, stealing and all sorts happening.
“The President is clear on his instructions to us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of Nigeria and we are all standing here together to show Nigerians that we are working closely, we are working together, in synergy to ensure that there is still peace and tranquillity in Nigeria. That we have assured Mr. President.”
On the allegation that military personnel participated in looting of property in some states during the protest, the CDS said investigations have shown that the allegations was false.
Tailors sewing Russian flags arrested in Kano
Tailors responsible for making Russian flags distributed to protesters in Kano have been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Its spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, made this known in a post on his verified X handle, @DrAfunanya_PNA.
He said some of their sponsors were also picked up by the Service.
But, Afunanya refuted reports that the Service arrested one of the protest organisers and National Coordinator of the Youths Rights Campaign, Michael Lenin.
The post reads: “The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody. Meanwhile, the Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making the Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked.”
Afunanya, who also spoke with reporters in Abuja, said intelligence and security agencies had uncovered plans by subversive groups and vandals to hijack protest.
Police arrest 873 ‘rioters’, 30 Russian flag bearers
Also, no fewer than 873 rioters and 30 person carrying Russian flags during the protest have been arrested by the Police.
Police Spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who spoke at the Strategic Communications Inter-agency Policy Committee press briefing organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), at the Headquarters of Department of State Service (DSS), said they would be prosecuted
He clarified that those arrested by the Police were rioters who committed various criminal offences, and not peaceful protesters.
Adejobi said: “I want to confirm again that those that have been arrested so far, to the best of my knowledge and with the records I have from all the states, are criminally minded individuals who went out, and actually engaged in various criminal offences ranging from armed robbery, homicide, mischief. Those who maliciously damage private and public facilities.
“ So, I don’t want us to use the word protesters for those who are actually, to the best of our knowledge and based on our findings, rioters. Let’s use appropriate words so that we do not heat up the polity and paint the government and security forces in a bad light. So, arrests of certain individuals who have been riotous should not be seen as the arrest of protesters.
“Again, we have arrested some individuals who are carrying the flag of another country. To carry the flags of a foreign country on our land is a criminal offense. Just this morning, we arrested one Ahmed Tello from Nasarawa local government area of Kano State, for producing a large quantity of Russian flags and giving them to young Nigerians to go and fly, for reasons known to him. We are profiling him.
“We want to get other sponsors like him. As I am speaking with you, the same thing has happened in Kaduna. We have arrest 30 of them with Russian flags.”
Adejobi said the police never harassed legitimate protesters, insisting that they only went after those who took advantage of the situation to commit other crimes.
He said: “We have been using tear gas. I think it is allowed anywhere in the world to use tear gas to dispatch rioters. Anytime any gathering becomes riotous, we have the mandate and the conditional backing to engage proportionally, professionally, logically and diplomatically to handle such a situation.
“Where anyone alleges the police have arrested protesters, please, let me know the protester. I want to use this one to even set the record straight.
“Actions and reactions are equal and opposite. We handle, engage and attend to incidents the way they came. Where we have been so professional in the area of using tear gas, it is necessary to do so at that time. We have reiterated on several occasions that we will not fold our arms to see anarchy in the land again. We cannot afford to experience what we experienced during the last violent #EndSars.”
The Police spokesman also denied that the police used life bullets on protesters in Kano and Abuja during the protest.
He said: “ I don’t think, and I don’t have that record, that policemen fired live ammunition in any of the states. There were allegations that in Kano policemen engaged and fired life ammunition. I don’t have that report. But all I know is that we were able to recover seven AK47 rifles from protesters.
“So, if they bear hands and we have been recovering arms from them, who knows who pulls the trigger?”
Adejobi said Nigerians should commend the Police and other security agencies for their professionalism in the handling of the protest, despite being overwhelmed, instead of accusing them of wrongdoing.
He said: “ It is not easy to manage a complex nation like Nigeria. Like I always say, how do you want us to manage a situation where a protest is declared in 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, simultaneously?I think security forces should be commended for the way we have managed this so far.”
Russia not party to flag waving, says Embassy
The Embassy of Russia said its country was not behind the waving of its flag during the protest.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, the embassy said Russia does not get itself involved in the domestic affairs of Nigeria or any other country.
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The statement reads: “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 in the issue.
“We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy.
Don’t incite youths, Doguwa tells Kwankwaso
House of Representatives member and former Chairman of Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) cautioned the National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, against inciting the youths in the state.
Doguwa also urged Nigerians to exercise patience and allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu address the country’s challenges.
In a statement in Abuja, Doguwa who is also the Leader of the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives said the President was working hard to address the challenges.
He said: “I also appeal to him (Kwankwaso) to stop inciting the youths into taking the law into their own hands by making unruly public pronouncements capable of breaching law and order in the state.
“President Tinubu-led administration is working hard and will continue to do its very best to discharge its democratic duties for the benefit of all Nigerians. We in the legislature will continue cooperating with the government to address the nation’s economic problems.
“We share in the pains that Nigerians are going through, but we are confident that we will overcome them through the pragmatic policies and programs of the APC-Led federal government.
“We also sincerely hope and pray that President Tinubu will practically transform the Nigerian economy and make the country prosper. I urge Nigerians, especially the youths, to give Tinubu sustained support and cooperation in our very proactive match to glory.”
Reacting to the comment by the federal legislator from Kiru/Bebeji Constituency, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, warning him against insulting Kwankwaso, Doguwa reminded the NNPP lawmaker that he was a contemporary of the former Kano state governor, having being elected into the House at the same time with him in aborted Third Republic.
Doguwa, who said he has respect for Kwankwaso, warned him against denigrating the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Describing Jibrin as a poor student of history, he said he was in school in the 1990s and would not have known that he won his first election in 1992 like Kwankwaso, his political godfather.
Doguwa said: “Hon. Jibrin was never my mate and cannot match my sterling legislative experience, which dwarfs his in all forms. I have been in the House of Representatives since Jibrin was in school. I, therefore, expect him to respect me the way he wants me to respect his godfather, Kwankwaso.
“He should stay clear in my political acrimony with an erstwhile colleague and, of course, my boss at some points in my political history. I agree that Kwankwaso held many political positions in the country, and I respect his personality as a leader, even in my state.
“However, Kwankwaso must also be advised to shun or desist from his present attitude of abusing or embarrassing our national leaders of APC, sometimes even making negative insinuations against His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and making wrongful indictment against the APC Government.
“If Kwankwaso wants to be respected, he should also respect others. Respect, they say, is reciprocal. He must also respect other leaders who are, by all standards, not his mates.
“Recently Kwankwaso, the self-acclaimed national leader of the opposition NNPP, was seen on a viral video abusing all the leaders of APC in Kano State, of which I am one. He called us, “Banzaye” in Hausa – stupid people.”
“It was based on that I responded by calling him to order. I won elections to the House of Representatives seven times – polls starting from July 1992 when Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the chief electoral umpire. My constituents, by the Grace of Allah SWT, have continued to vote for him overwhelmingly to represent them, and by His grace, I have not disappointed them, and I won’t, Insha Allah”.
Police arrest 27 suspects in Jos for defying curfew
The Plateau State Police Command arrested 27 suspects in Jos, the state capital, for defying the curfew imposed on Jos/Bukuru metropolis by Governor Caleb Mutfwang
According to Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), “the suspects were arrested for looting people’s properties and defying the curfew”.
The curfew was imposed by Mutfwang after miscreants attempted to hijack the protest in Jos, leading to chaos, looting and destruction of property.
Alabo, who spoke on phone, said the suspects were youths from Jos North who refused to comply with the curfew.
He said the police command had deployed operatives to various areas within Jos metropolis and Bukuru to prevent further breakdown of law and order.