1 month ago
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.Says ‘Flying Russian Flag during protest is treason’
. Police arrest 39 suspects for displaying Russian, Chinese flags in Kaduna
By Andrew Orolua & Ihesiulo Grace
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has warned protesters and the public that the military will defend the country’s democracy and will not engage in a coup.
The warning came following a viral video of a scene where some protesters were seen flying the Russian flag, while at another location protesters were seen begging officers who came to quell violent the protest to take over government.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Monday postponed this week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting and met with Service Chiefs at emergency security.
The meeting which turned out to be an enlarged security meeting was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi; as well as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap over #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria protest.
Recall that amidst the nationwide protest on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu had in a nationwide broadcast called on the protesters to suspend the protest and engage in dialogue to give the administration time to allow its policies already in place to yield results.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting on Monday, said that individuals displaying the Russian flag in Kano, Nigeria are engaging in acts of treason and that the law will ultimately hold those individuals accountable.
He said they have briefed Mr President on the situation on ground adding that since the riot started all the security agencies have been together.
“Initially, when the riot started, they said it was a peaceful one 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.
“And 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 offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.
“Also the issue of coups, Nigeria is a sovereign nation, Nigeria is a democratic nation all security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to strive.
“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 will continue to defend.
“For those of them flying flags and if you’ll see a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that. We’re following up with those ones are sponsoring them. Those are pushing them because you know, the flies were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against that.
“The President is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria. And we are all standing here together to show Nigerians that we’re working closely, we are working together with synergy to ensure that there’s still peace and tranquility in Nigeria that we have assured Mr. President.
Responding to allegations of military involvement in looting, Gen. Musa dismissed the claims as misconceptions, stating that a thorough investigation had cleared armed forces personnel of any such wrongdoing.
“No. I think it has been cleared, I think it was also a misconception. They actually have seen those things and they wanted to clear them away and that’s what was done. We have investigated thoroughly, the Chief of Army Staff is here. We have investigated thoroughly and there is nothing like such, no member of the Armed Forces falls into doing that. And he’s very clear.
“We’ve said that clearly that the military is going to step in when it is out of hand and you can see that for people supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria, Nigerian sovereignty, 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 will be prosecuted,” he stated.
The CDS reiterated the military’s commitment to maintaining peace and tranquility in Nigeria, warning that those who have crossed “the red line” by displaying foreign flags will face prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 39 suspects in connection with inciting violence, displaying Russian and Chinese flags as well and vandalising public and private property in various parts of the state capital on Monday.
Among the suspects include the tailor who produced the Russian and Chinese flags for the protesters.
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According to the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, the suspects exploited the #EndBadGovernance protest, and used it to unleash violence against innocent residents.
He listed some of the damaged properties by the hoodlums to include a Hilux vehicle belonging to the Kaduna State Vigilance Service, a car belonging to a journalist, a new generation bank at Tudun Wada in Kaduna South local government and the Zonal office of the Kaduna Traffic law Enforcement Agency in Zaria.
Hassan said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, intervened to restore order, the suspects became hostile and resorted to using stones, catapults, and other weapons.
However, the police managed to calm the situation with the minimal use of tear gas.
In total, 39 suspects were arrested at the scene, including a tailor who was sewing the foreign flags for the group.
The police authorities said 38 Russian flags, one Chinese flag, two catapults with a bag of stones, and various vandalized items were also recovered from the suspects.
English (US) ·