FG probes four northern political bigwigs over flying of Russian flag during protest

 Photo caption: Hardship protest: Ex-envoys, former military officers worry as demonstrators wave Russian flag (Twitter Image)

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 The PUNCH 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.

“You see, four principal actors have been identified in this issue. They are top politicians from Katsina, Kano and Kaduna and the security agencies are closing in on them,” said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“They played prominent roles in the election of last year (2023),” the source added.

Another source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents, “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.”

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 ze soka’ kaa’sa,” which translates to, “Tinubu must step down.”

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

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 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 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.

The 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.

The Kano police boss also announced further relaxation of the curfew from 6am to 6pm.

The same day, the Gombe State Police Command paraded 10 suspects for waving the Russian flag during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest.

Briefing journalists at the Criminal Investigation Department of the command, Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, said the outright display of another country’s flag was disrespectful to the nation.

The command’s Public Relations Officer ASP Buhari Abdullahi, who represented Usman, said the protesters were arrested in the violent protest utterly showed disrespect to the country.

“We have seen the unsettling displays of foreign flags by some protesters. This act not only disrespects our national symbols but also commits treasonable felony and related offences. Hence, 10 suspects were arrested flying Russian flags,” Abdullahi stated while parading the suspects.

“The command’s primary goal remains to restore peace and order and protect lives and property. We are committed to a measured response, ensuring that the rights of peaceful protesters are respected while addressing those who engage in violence or unlawful activities.”

He added, “The looting of both public and private property during these protests is a grave concern, for instance, the Gombe State Revenue Recovery Tribunal, Bima Lodge, Gombe State Bureau of Public Service Reform, NITEL Company and Blue -J motors among others. Such action not only undermine the rule of law but also disrupts communities and harm businesses.

“However, the command is coordinating with local communities and other agencies to address these illegal activities and hold those responsible accountable. Therefore, 92 suspects were arrested with some of the vandalised and stolen property and they are still under investigation.”

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu held closed-door talks with intelligence chiefs at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

Although the outcome of the meeting is not known, it may not be unconnected with the ongoing nationwide protests.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General, DSS, Yusuf Bichi; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Abubakar Ahmed and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanual attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the DSS said it had identified some masterminds of the prevalent Russian flags during the protests.

DSS 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.

“People are using things other than the currency that you know, channels of transaction to do bitcoins, to do virtual currency, to do all manner of things to raise financing.

“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.

Comptroller-General of the NIS, 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 said, “Some of these sponsors, some of these people who are actually in the diaspora, we have a number of them who are actually instigating this mayhem that we’re seeing right now. What we have done is we have added them to our watch list.

“We have them on our radars, and we’re making sure that any attempt they make to come into the country we will notify the necessary authorities. And we’re working closely, of course, with the NIA and the DSS and the NSA so that all those we have in the diaspora that are actually trying to subvert the authority of this nation are on our radars.”

Nandap added that the Service had stepped up surveillance to prevent foreign intervention in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said the Police had equally uncovered some sponsors of the protests living in the diaspora.

The police chief said, “Although we are aware that some of the sponsors of this protest have a clear motive to subvert the government of the day, we are not going to allow that. We will defend our democracy.

“Then, the question is how we are countering funding of the protest. We are doing a lot that I won’t be able to immediately expose to you how we are countering funding

“We have blocked some accounts and are still monitoring them. Some are outside the country, and we will still get them.”

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the security operatives were after those he identified as “enemies of the country.”

 “It’s our duty to protect Nigerians. The only people we’re after are those who don’t know us well, the enemies of the state. And anyone who makes himself an enemy of the state will then be ready to face the law.

“We’re going to remain focused and committed, we’re going to respect human rights, the rights of everyone who is lawfully performing his duty.

“But we will not relent in pursuing those that have continued to encourage unconstitutional takeover of government. We will remain very professional,” Musa said.

He added that troops deployed across the country had been directed to respect human rights while going about their duties.

“We have told our men outside in the field that they must respect the rights of everyone.

“We encourage the youth to dialogue to understand that destruction and mob action do nobody any good.

“We know there are challenges in the country and these challenges are not only here,” said Musa.

Suspects on trial

Egbetokun said the Police had commenced trials for suspects arrested during the nationwide protest.

The Police had on Monday said over 800 suspects, who committed various offences during the protest, had been arrested.

In Kano, suspects were being tried at the police headquarters because of their large numbers.

He said, “I want to tell you that the trial of the suspects arrested during protests has begun. If you go to police headquarters in Kano now, you will find out that arrested persons are already being tried. So, we are not keeping them indefinitely.”

Egbetokun explained that the police, military and other agencies involved in the protest did not use excessive force on protesters.

“The Police and the military and indeed other security agencies involved in the management of this protest have not deployed excessive use of force; instead, what we had were attacks on security agents during the protest. From our record, there were no shooting incidents by the Police,” the IGP added.

“The Police or military didn’t use any live ammunition in the management of these protests. Instead, we had cases where our officers were injured in critical conditions, as we speak. I will dismiss that (use of excessive force) as fake news and very wrong allegations. We didn’t use excessive force at all.

“We didn’t even deploy the whole of our strength in this protest even when it turned violent. We have water cannons we did not deploy, we have rubber bullets, we didn’t use. All that we have used is teargas and nothing more.”

The Police chief also argued that the protests did not overstretch his men who, he said, successfully nabbed several other criminals.

Egbetokun said, “We were not overstretched; we had standby units that we didn’t deploy in managing this protest. Even while the protests were going on, a number of them were arrested.

“Hoodlums who committed armed robbery were arrested. The only thing we didn’t have was kidnapping. But any other offence that was committed we paid due attention to those criminal activities.”

On his part, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja said the Army’s major operational commitment was to deploy resources to quell the protests that had morphed into riots, while the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, stated that the Navy was working with other security agencies to ensure safety and security in the maritime domain.

Groups condemn protesters

Meanwhile, organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests have dissociated themselves from protesters waving the Russian flag and demanding the removal of President Tinubu, saying it was unrelated to their struggle.

Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, said although the group neither endorsed nor condemned the protesters’ action, it remained focused on its already outlined demands, adding that threats by security agencies against the protesters were “baseless and misdirected.”

“Our demands are clearly outlined in our charters of demands, and they remain unwavering. The waving of Russian flags is a non sequitur, unrelated to our struggle for justice and accountability. While we neither endorse nor condemn this act, we must emphasise that it’s not a criminal offence under our laws.

“Threats from security agencies to punish flag bearers and arrest tailors who make them are baseless and misdirected. Our focus remains on achieving meaningful change, not on manufactured distractions,” he said.

Similarly, Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, and the pan-Niger Delta Forum have condemned the use of the Russian flag by protesters in the northern part of the country.

Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Kole Omololu, called on President Tinubu to punish those behind the act.

He said, “On the waving of the Russian flag by northern protesters, who are also demanding that President Tinubu should step down, this is a grievous and abominable action by fellow Nigerians and the government should not take it lightly with the perpetrators because the implication is that there have been several coups in the West African sub-region and the coup plotters have been more or less bragging that Russia is their godfather. That is the reason some unpatriotic elements in the north have the audacity to fly the Russian flag. It is calling for a coup and this is treason and should not be handled lightly.

“It is because they have never been part of the democratic struggle in this country. The democracy we are enjoying today, we know how we fought for it. Then, a lot of our leaders were killed. Some were imprisoned unjustly, while the life of our current President was thrown into asylum. If you remember, nine years ago, this country was brought down to its kneel.  We are still battling with that till today.”

The Afenifere chieftain urged the President to use “every force available” to track those involved in the act.

“The security agencies should fish out all those holding meetings in Kaduna, those negotiating with terrorists and pretending to be good citizens of the country. The action is condemnable in every ramification. President Bola Tinubu is trying to put together, the country that has been brought down on its kneel.  But enemies are fighting back. That should not be allowed; the President should come out with every force available. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Nigeria. This is not time to play politics, it is time to play leadership and assertive.”

On their part, PANDEF described the protesters as ignorant.

“The truth is that from the images we see, they (flag holders) are minors, adolescents, maybe 13 or 14, misguided youths. It’s a dangerous trend and I’m sure they are not even aware of the implications. They are misguided and misinformed, it boils down to issues of out-of-school children who, perhaps, are not even well parented or there are no parents,” National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Dr Ken Robinson, said this during a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday.

Also, the National Vice-President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said the South-East was not part of the call for President Bola Tinubu to resign, saying that the region was more concerned about the plight of Ndigbo in the entity called Nigeria.

He said, “Before the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, died, he made a promise that the Ndigbo would not join the protest and when he died, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo re-echoed it. We are concerned more that some people in some sections of the country are asking Igbo to leave.

“So, we are not bothered by the issue of waving of Russian flag by protesters in the North because we are not part of the protest. Since we are not part of it, we don’t know if they are waving Russian flag or flying helicopter anywhere.

“As far as the protest is concerned, we are sleeping; we are not part of it. We are worried that a tribe in Nigeria is asking another tribe to leave. That is more serious than every other thing.

“Whatever you call it whether Russian flag or wrapper, did you see any of them in the South-East? So, we cannot define what the Russian flag looks like and it is not the concern of the Ndigbo because we are not part of it.”

In the same vein, some groups from the northern states dissociated themselves from calls for military takeover.

The Chairman of National Unity Forum for Peace, Alhaji Abbas Dattijo, told The PUNCH that those calling for a change of a democratically elected government were not speaking for the region.

“People of the region are not in any way in support of regime change of constitutionally installed government and can never support calls for Russia government to intervene in the situation in the country”

The Chairman of Grand Alliance of Coalition of Northern Youths Movement, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, disagreed with those calling for a change of government.

He condemned those calling for a regime change, saying they were working for a different purpose, which he said should be investigated by the authorities concerned.

Down south, protesters laid siege to a mansion located in Ada George in Ohio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State belonging to the immediate past Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Following the multiple protests which rocked the metropolis and its outskirts, one of the groups, a crowd of over 50 who marched from the Agip Junction axis in Port Harcourt, stopped in front of Wike’s house, singing and pointing to the posh building, saying “this is Wike’s house.”

The protesters, who carried leaves, sang the old national anthem and rained curses on the FCT minister as a retinue of armed policemen watched closely.

The policemen immediately formed a wall to prevent the protesters from coming close to the residence and asked the youths to remain on the other side of the road

The presence of the operatives prevented the protesters, who left after about 50 minutes, from going closer.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said, “It is not true that Wike’s house was attacked because I have spoken to the DPO twice on this and our men are there.

“The protesters only marched past the building and the policemen ensured that they were on the other side of the road. They (operatives) did not confront them.”