By Clement Adeyi, and Cross Udo, Abuja
The Nigerian government will not tolerate calls for coups and the hoisting of foreign flags by some protesters, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, said after a meeting between security chiefs and President Bola Tinubu yesterday.
President Tinubu summoned a National Security Council meeting where issues of security threats to the country were discussed.
The security meeting which was held at the President’s office at the State House Abuja, also looked into the new trend of protesters hoisting the Russian flag in some states in the north.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the security meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, described as a treasonable offence the hoisting of Russian flags in the cities of Nigeria.
The CDS also ruled out any possible coup to remove the democratically elected government, saying that the military would not allow any such attempt to succeed.
Recall that some protesters in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Plateau states have hoisted the Russian flags in the aforementioned states from Saturday last week, but the Chief of Defence Staff said that those behind such a grievous offence would face the wrath of the law.
He said, “We went to brief Mr President on the situation on the ground and we know that since the riot (protest) started, all the security agencies are together.
“Initially, when the riot (protest) 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 of things are happening.
“And besides, all of us have seen it where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is unacceptable. We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.
“That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.”
Musa further said, “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 sponsoring them.
“Those who are pushing them because you know, flags were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against them. The President is clear in his instructions for us not to accept anyone who wants to disrupt the peace and tranquillity 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 tranquillity in Nigeria, that we have assured Mr President.”
Fielding questions on the issue of coups being rumoured in some quarters, the CDS said, “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 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 will continue to defend.”
Asked to clarify the allegations that some soldiers partook in the looting in some states, the army chief said, “No. I think it has been cleared, I think it was also a misconception. They have seen those things and they wanted to clear them away from the area 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 fell into doing that.”
Musa reiterated his earlier position that the military will step in to quell the protests when it gets out of hand.
He said, “You can see that some people supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria, Nigeria is a sovereignty, that is crossing the red lines and we will not accept that. And those who have done that will go in for the books and they will be prosecuted.”
Further asked whether those behind the action have been identified, he simply responded, “I’m sure you have seen them on TV, that is enough for you to see.,”
In attendance at the meeting are the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Among the security and law enforcement agency heads participating are the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and the three service chiefs; as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
Also in the meeting are the 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), Col Adewale Adeniyi; as well as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap.
President Tinubu had in a national broadcast on Sunday pleaded with the organisers of the nationwide protest to suspend the action as it had gone violent in some states with the attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.
He also warned that he would not sit and watch some people used by opposition politicians to truncate democracy in the country.
*Kaduna, Bauchi impose 24-hour curfew
In response to escalating unrest in Kaduna and Zaria, the Kaduna State Security Council has enacted a 24-hour curfew in both cities.
Despite some areas of Kaduna returning to normalcy, a large group of youths remains on the streets, calling for an end to what they perceive as ineffective leadership.
Similarly, the Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed, has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the Katagum Local Government Area of the state following an escalating security crisis that had trailed the hardship protests.
President Tinubu Sunday’s address to the nation urging calm was met with dissatisfaction from protesters, who felt their specific grievances were not addressed.
In Kaduna, the state Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, announced the curfew, stating it was implemented to safeguard peace.
Aruwan highlighted that the protests had been compromised by criminal elements engaged in looting and property damage.
“The Kaduna State Security Council, under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, has assessed the situation and decided to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria Metropolises and surrounding areas effective immediately,” Aruwan said.
He urged citizens to stay indoors as security forces work to restore order, promising that the situation will be continually monitored for any necessary adjustments to the curfew.
The Governor said the decision followed a series of violent incidents resulting in the destruction of public property, theft, and victimisation in the area.
In Bauchi, the governor’s directive was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim.
The statement said the governor has instructed all security agencies to take swift action to address the situation, apprehend those responsible, and bring them to justice.
The governor also called on law-abiding citizens to support security efforts during this challenging time.
*DSS captures tailors sewing Russian flags in Kano as Police arrest 873 suspects nationwide
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday disclosed that its operatives have apprehended some tailors sewing Russian flags for #EndBadGovernance protesters in Kano.
In a statement, the DSS said its operatives also apprehended the sponsors of the tailors while the investigation was ongoing.
The secret police also said Adaramoye Michael, national coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), is not in its custody.
“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 Russian flags being distributed in the area,” the DSS wrote.
“Some of their sponsors have also been picked.”
On Thursday, the 10-day protest, tagged ‘EndBadGovernance’, commenced in many parts of the country.
On the first day, some protesters were seen in Kano waving the Russian flags while urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the situation in Nigeria.
On Saturday, another group of protesters in Jos, the Plateau capital, were seen with Russian and Japanese flags.
Yesterday, some protesters were seen holding Russian flags near the Nyanya Bridge, a suburb in Abuja.
The trend has elicited reactions on whether the protesters in northern Nigeria are being influenced by foreign elements.
Similarly, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said the police operatives only arrested riotous individuals who were engaged in criminality during the ongoing nationwide protest.
Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said this during the monthly news conference organised by The Strategic Communication Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) hosted by the Department of States Services (DSS) yesterday in Abuja.
One of the flag producers, identified as Ahmed Bello, was also arrested with a large quantity of flags in Kano.
He said that there were differences between protests and riots.
Adejobi said that while there were peaceful protests in some states, there were riots and criminalities in others on the first day.
“So, arrests of certain individuals who have been riotous should not be seen as the arrest of protesters. Let us get it clear. Some states in Nigeria 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 officeholders have been engaging them.
“You can only engage in a gathering, an assembly that is friendly and accessible, where you 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 said.
Adejobi said the police, military, and other security agencies engaged the protesters professionally across the country.
He said that the protesters in Abuja had violated the court ruling that restricted them to the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
According to him, some persons have deliberately and willfully violated the court ruling.
He said the police presence was not to harass or intimidate anybody but to protect the national assets, adding that the barricade at 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.
“They went out, and engaged in various criminal offences ranging from armed robbery, homicide, mischief, or the one we call malicious damage of private and public facilities; 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, that are 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 who were covering the protests, adding that 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 Nigerian soil.
“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 1 August, have begun to manifest,” he added.
*Russian Embassy reacts
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has disowned the protesters, saying that its officials are not involved and do not coordinate the activities of those waving Russian flags during the protests.
The Embassy which disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, insisted that neither the Russian government nor any of its officials were involved in the protesters’ acts.
“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,” the statement said.
“As always, we emphasise that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria,” it added.
The Embassy, however, attributed the use of Russian symbols by the protesters to personal decision, noting that it did not portray any official policy or position of the Russian Government.
“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,” the embassy noted.
The statement also expressed absolute regard for Nigeria’s democratic processes, relative peace, and democracy.
The embassy condemned any potential disruptions or acts of violence that might arise from the events.
“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,” it added.
