The Department of State Services (DSS) has launched an investigation into the activities of seven Polish nationals arrested in Kano, suspected of involvement in the widespread display of Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
On August 5, the DSS announced the arrest of several tailors in Kano, who were allegedly sewing Russian flags for protesters.
During the initial protest, demonstrators in Kano were observed waving Russian flags, calling for intervention from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Similar incidents were reported in Jos, Plateau State, where protesters displayed Russian and Japanese flags.
Furthermore, protesters were seen holding Russian flags near the Nyanya bridge in Abuja, the federal capital territory.
This trend has sparked concerns and debate about potential foreign influence on protesters in northern Nigeria, prompting the DSS investigation into the matter.
However, the Russian embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from the display of the country’s flags during the protest.
Speaking during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with members of the diplomatic corps, Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, said the Polish nationals were arrested in connection with the waving of Russian flags during the protest.
Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, conveyed the meeting.
Afunanya said the arrest of the suspects was not targeted at Polish nationals.
“For the persons that we have picked up from Kano, it was because of where they were found during the protest and display of the foreign flag in Kano that was two days ago,” he said.
“As a responsible security organisation, we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.
“They were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened. It is not a targeted operation.
“As the foremost domestic security organisation, we believe we have to work in sync with all of you who are men of goodwill, and our operations must be governed by democratic principles and protocol that emphasise freedom and human rights and, of course, intelligence and security governance.
“We obey all of this whether we are dealing with Nigerians or foreigners.”
