*Nab Kano Tailor Producing Russian Flags Over Treasonable Felony

*Russia Denies Involvement

THE Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has clarified that its operatives only arrested riotous individuals engaged in criminal activities during the ongoing nationwide protest.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi (ACP), who made the clarification during the monthly news conference organised by the Strategic Communication Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC), hosted by the Department of States Service (DSS), on Monday, August 5, in Abuja, insisted that there is a difference between protest and riot.

Adejobi said that while there were peaceful protests in some states, there were riots and criminal activities in others on the first day, adding: “So, arrests of certain individuals who have been riotous should not be seen as the arrest of protesters. Let us get it clear.

“There are some states in Nigeria they have been having peaceful protests and security agencies have been engaging them. I am sure and I know you are aware that some governors and public office holders have been engaging them.

“You can only engage in a gathering, an assembly that is friendly and accessible, where you don’t have individuals wielding stones, offensive weapons, dangerous weapons and all the likes. I don’t think a reasonable man will move close or be in the middle of such a gathering.”

He stated the Police, military and other security agencies engaged the protesters professionally across the country, noting that the protesters in Abuja had violated the court ruling that restricted them to the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola (National) Stadium.

The Police spokesman said some persons had deliberately and willfully violated the court ruling, adding, however, that the presence of the Police was not to harass or intimidate anybody, but to protect the national assets, adding that the barricade at the Eagle Square was to protect the Three Arms Zone.

“You will agree with me that in some areas in Abuja, we recorded riots and this protest was violent. Anywhere we have these engagements, I don’t think we should refer to such an assembly or a gathering or a procession as peaceful anymore.

“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 actually engaged in various criminal offences, ranging from armed robbery, homicide, mischief or the one we call malicious damage of private and public facilities, whose owners are in pain as I speak with you.

“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 and of course, criminally-minded individuals.

“We have arrested 873 suspects so far  and these suspects are those who are directly connected to one criminal offence or the other,” he added.

Adejobi also denied that the Police and other security agencies attacked journalists covering the protests, saying they only prevented people from gathering at unauthorised places.

He said the Police had also apprehended some individuals for treasonable felony for carrying the flags of a foreign country on the Nigerian soil, noting: “Just this morning, we arrested Ahmed Tailor from Kwanahudu in Nasarawa Local Government Area of 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, we want to get other sponsors like him and as I speak with you, the same thing has happened in Kaduna.

“We have been able to arrest 30 of them with the same Russian flags and I don’t want us to believe that for now, at this stage, we are still having a protest.

“The undertones of this protest, based on our intelligence before it commenced on August 1, have begun to manifest,” he added. 

      Recall that some protesters in Kano had taken to the streets, waving Russian flags and calling for intervention from Russian President Vladimir Putin, as their grievances were not being addressed by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

In a swift reaction, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has denied any involvement with the protesters’ use of its flag.

Protesters were seen marching on the streets, carrying Russian flag and chanting slogans, while others held placards with various messages.

Russia, a world super power, has gradually been involved and is wielding some political influence in West Africa, notably military-ruled Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, thereby sparking concerns about possible external interference in the ongoing protest in Nigeria.

But the embassy insisted that the Government of the Russian Federation was not and is not involved in the activities of protesters in the North carrying and waving Russian flags.

In a statement on Monday, August 5, the embassy emphasised that Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including Nigeria, and that the protesters’ actions do not reflect any official Russian government policy or position.

According to the statement: “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. However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence, we strictly condemn them.”