The Kano State Government has issued a statement clarifying its stance on protesters seen carrying Russian flags during the ongoing demonstrations against hunger and bad governance, according to Politics Nigeria.
According to Governor Abba Yusuf’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the government does not recognize the protesters waving Russian flags and they do not represent any government agents.
The government has distinguished between the genuine protesters, who have submitted their grievances, and the group carrying Russian flags, which is not part of the legitimate protest movement.
The Kano State Government has also announced the establishment of a committee of inquiry to investigate the killings and looting of public buildings that occurred during the protests.
The government will forward the concerns of the genuine protesters to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, while distancing itself from the Russian flag protesters.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police force said on Monday that it has arrested 31 persons for what it described as treason by producing and distributing Russian flags and calling for anarchy.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi said 30 persons were arrested in Kaduna while one person who was recruiting persons for distribution of the flags was arrested in Kano.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi said 30 persons were arrested in Kaduna while one person who was recruiting persons for distribution of the flags was arrested in Kano.
Adejobi also said that as at Monday, the number of persons arrested “who are not protesters but criminal elements, rioters” in connection with the end bad governance protest are 873, up from 861 at the weekend.
Adejobi said, “What we are having in the country right now are protests, Demonstration and riots. Those arrested are rioters, armed robbers, looters and criminal elements. Criminal elements. Arrest of criminal elements should not be described as arrest of protesters.
“Those arrested so far across the country are criminally minded persons, looters engaged in criminal offences such as vandalization and destruction of public and critical infrastructure. So we should use the appropriate description for them, they are not protesters.”
