Over 90 Protesters Arrested in Nigeria with Russian Flags as Officials Cite Foreign Influence
Nigerian authorities announced on Tuesday that they had detained over 90 protesters who were carrying Russian flags during demonstrations sparked by economic difficulties.
Last week, thousands took to the streets to protest against government policies and the soaring cost of living as Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, endures its most severe economic crisis in decades.
While most protests have dwindled after confrontations with security forces, hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Monday in northern states like Kaduna, Katsina, and Kano, as well as Plateau State in the central region.
AFP reporters and witnesses observed some protesters displaying Russian flags, an act which the Russian embassy has disassociated itself from.
Northern Nigeria has significant cultural, religious, and socioeconomic connections with the Sahel region, which has experienced a series of coups and a shift towards Russian alliances.
Russian flags have appeared in rallies in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, and their emergence in Nigeria has elicited strong reactions from officials.
Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed that “more than 90” protesters with Russian flags had been arrested.
On Tuesday, security leaders, including armed forces and police representatives, held an unusual joint briefing, accusing unnamed “sponsors” of trying to destabilize the government without presenting concrete evidence.
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Police chief Kayode Egbetokun claimed that some protest sponsors had “a clear motive to undermine the current government” and emphasized that the authorities would not tolerate such attempts.
He suggested that some of these sponsors might be “outside the country” and justified the arrests of flag carriers as a means to reach these sponsors.
Defense chief General Christopher Musa warned on Monday that anyone encouraging the display of Russian flags in Nigeria was “crossing the red line” and would not be tolerated.
Damilare Adenola, head of the Take It Back group organizing Abuja protests, dismissed the accusations as “mere distraction” and claimed the authorities were using these allegations as a pretext to suppress protesters.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement in a statement issued on Monday, clarifying that “The Government of the Russian Federation and any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.”
Amnesty International has reported that at least 13 protesters were killed by security forces on the first day of demonstrations, while police have confirmed seven deaths but deny any wrongdoing.
In a televised address on Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for a halt to the protests, but organizers have pledged to continue despite a decrease in participation.
Over 90 Protesters Arrested in Nigeria with Russian Flags as Officials Cite Foreign Influence
