Nigeria has detained a number of tailors reportedly responsible for sewing Russian flags waved during anti-government protests in the country’s northern regions, the state security agency said.
The move underscores concerns about increased Russian activity in western Africa, where the Kremlin has been propping up military juntas responsible for several military coups over the past years.
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) also said in a post on X that it had detained some of the tailors’ “sponsors,” without elaborating. It said an investigation was ongoing. It did not say how many tailors or “sponsors” had been held.
“We have identified those [sponsoring them] and we are going to take serious action against that,” Musa told reporters, without elaborating further.
Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting since August 1 against Tinubu’s painful economic reforms that have seen a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation and inflation touching three-decade highs.
In the northern states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Borno protesters were seen waving hundreds of Russian flags, with some calling for a military takeover.
“We are waving the Russian flag because Tinubu’s government is not listening to us. Russian presidents always support African nations’ development, unlike other nations,” Lawal Kodo, a 28-year-old protester in Kano, told Reuters on Monday.
Security experts said many Nigerian protesters believe that the cost of living crisis is the result of reforms dictated to Tinubu by Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
“The Russian flags that appeared during the protests in northern states, and the calls for a military coup, reflect discontent over the government’s policies rather than showcasing support for a Russia-backed military government,” said Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence firm.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement in the protests.
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) also said in a post on X that it had detained some of the tailors’ “sponsors,” without elaborating. It said an investigation was ongoing. It did not say how many tailors or “sponsors” had been held.
General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, called the brandishing of a foreign flag during anti-government protests a “treasonable offense” after holding security talks with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.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. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. Investigation…
— Department of State Services (DSS) (@OfficialDSSNG) August 5, 2024
“We have identified those [sponsoring them] and we are going to take serious action against that,” Musa told reporters, without elaborating further.
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Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting since August 1 against Tinubu’s painful economic reforms that have seen a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation and inflation touching three-decade highs.
The protests have now ebbed after a police crackdown that left several people dead, scores injured and hundreds arrested.The use of Russian flags by Nigerian protesters (in Kano) is spreading, and this is potentially dangerous. It now appears that this may be an organised campaign orchestrated by malign actors. I have seen names, faces and voices that don't look Nigerian among those advocating for… pic.twitter.com/UBAse0jn8n
— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) August 4, 2024
In the northern states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Borno protesters were seen waving hundreds of Russian flags, with some calling for a military takeover.
“We are waving the Russian flag because Tinubu’s government is not listening to us. Russian presidents always support African nations’ development, unlike other nations,” Lawal Kodo, a 28-year-old protester in Kano, told Reuters on Monday.
Security experts said many Nigerian protesters believe that the cost of living crisis is the result of reforms dictated to Tinubu by Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
“The Russian flags that appeared during the protests in northern states, and the calls for a military coup, reflect discontent over the government’s policies rather than showcasing support for a Russia-backed military government,” said Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence firm.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement in the protests.
Russian involvement in West Africa
The protests in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, come amid increased Western concerns over Russian security ties with the region, including countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where military leaders have seized power in coups.
The most recent coup which is suspected to be carried out with Russia’s involvement was in Niger in late July 2023 and resulted in the toppling of the legally elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
The coup nearly led to a military intervention by the countries of the regional cooperation ECOWAS group, of which both Nigeria and Niger are members. The African Union suspended Niger’s membership in the continental bloc.
The Niger junta has also demanded that Western forces leave the country, echoing similar demands made earlier by Mali. The French military presence in Niger ended in late December 2023. The French have been subsequently replaced by Russian military instructors.
The most recent coup which is suspected to be carried out with Russia’s involvement was in Niger in late July 2023 and resulted in the toppling of the legally elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
The coup nearly led to a military intervention by the countries of the regional cooperation ECOWAS group, of which both Nigeria and Niger are members. The African Union suspended Niger’s membership in the continental bloc.
The Niger junta has also demanded that Western forces leave the country, echoing similar demands made earlier by Mali. The French military presence in Niger ended in late December 2023. The French have been subsequently replaced by Russian military instructors.
Source: Reuters, TVP World
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