Nigeria’s security agencies are investigating at least four politicians from the country’s northern part over the use of Russian flags by #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Multiple sources told The PUNCH that the political bigwigs, who hail from Katsina, Kaduna and Kano states, were principal actors who instigated the use of Russian flags among demonstrators in the north to fan the embers for an unconstitutional regime change.

“You see, four principal actors have been identified in this issue. They are top politicians from Katsina, Kano and Kaduna and the security agencies are closing in on them,” said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“They played prominent roles in the election of last year (2023),” the source added.

Another source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents, “There is evidence of external influence mainly involving the politicians who are conniving with a West African and European country to cause mayhem and promote the use of the flags we are seeing. They want to do here what they did in some other countries.”

The nationwide protests against hardship and hunger took a dangerous dimension on Monday, with protesters in some Northern states waving the Russian flag as they chanted “Tinubu must go.”

Protesters in Kaduna were seen waving the Russian flag and chanting in Hausa, “Tinubu ze soka’ kaa’sa,” which translates to, “Tinubu must step down.”

They also hailed military personnel, who patrolled the metropolis, chanting, “Tinubu yaa’so’ka, mu’na so soja”, meaning, “Tinubu step down, we want soldiers.”

Russia, an Eastern power currently mired in a cold war with the West, has been blamed for several unconstitutional changes of government in West African countries such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, and among others.

The Nigerian military on Monday said persons flying the Russian flag were committing treason and will, therefore, be “prosecuted”. It also said it is investigating those who are instigating the move and will “take serious action” against them.

“That is totally unacceptable…that is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such,” said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, after a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

The Department of State Services stated on X.com that it had arrested some tailors sewing Russian flags in Kano State and that some of their sponsors had also been nabbed.

However, protesters with the flag reduced drastically on Tuesday after state security personnel clamped down on them in several states, arresting them and their perceived foreign sponsors.

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Garba, disclosed that some foreigners suspected of being behind the protesters were arrested.

Garba, who stated this after a security meeting with Governor Abba Yusuf on Tuesday, vowed that the police and other security agencies would clamp down on anyone who violated the security regulations of the state.

The Kano police boss also announced further relaxation of the curfew from 6am to 6pm.

The same day, the Gombe State Police Command paraded 10 suspects for waving the Russian flag during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest.

Briefing journalists at the Criminal Investigation Department of the command, Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, said the outright display of another country’s flag was disrespectful to the nation.

The command’s Public Relations Officer ASP Buhari Abdullahi, who represented Usman, said the protesters were arrested in the violent protest utterly showed disrespect to the country.

“We have seen the unsettling displays of foreign flags by some protesters. This act not only disrespects our national symbols but also commits treasonable felony and related offences. Hence, 10 suspects were arrested flying Russian flags,” Abdullahi stated while parading the suspects.

“The command’s primary goal remains to restore peace and order and protect lives and property. We are committed to a measured response, ensuring that the rights of peaceful protesters are respected while addressing those who engage in violence or unlawful activities.”

He added, “The looting of both public and private property during these protests is a grave concern, for instance, the Gombe State Revenue Recovery Tribunal, Bima Lodge, Gombe State Bureau of Public Service Reform, NITEL Company and Blue -J motors among others. Such action not only undermine the rule of law but also disrupts communities and harm businesses.

“However, the command is coordinating with local communities and other agencies to address these illegal activities and hold those responsible accountable. Therefore, 92 suspects were arrested with some of the vandalised and stolen property and they are still under investigation.”

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu held closed-door talks with intelligence chiefs at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

Although the outcome of the meeting is not known, it may not be unconnected with the ongoing nationwide protests.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General, DSS, Yusuf Bichi; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Abubakar Ahmed and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanual attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the DSS said it had identified some masterminds of the prevalent Russian flags during the protests.

DSS boss Bichi, represented by Service spokesman Peter Afunanya, stated this at a joint media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja with heads of security agencies and Service Chiefs.

However, he argued that revealing the identities of those behind the act could jeopardise investigations.

“It’s not just that children are throwing flags or flying flags. If there is more to that, there are some aspects of our operation that we may not sit before the camera and begin to reel out, either because of their sensitivity, either because we are not supposed to say them now, or because there are ongoing investigations. And we may not say things that jeopardise those investigations,” Bichi said.

The DSS chief added that some sponsors funded the protests through monies raised outside the conventional banking system.

“People are using things other than the currency that you know, channels of transaction to do bitcoins, to do virtual currency, to do all manner of things to raise financing.

“We are attacking all of that. The NIFIU is doing so much. Our directorate for the process of recovery management is doing so much.”

On its part, the Nigeria Immigration Service said it had placed sponsors of #EndBadGovernance protests residing outside the country on its watch list.

Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs Kemi Nandap, who disclosed this, added that the persons on the list would be handed over to the appropriate agencies whenever they arrived in Nigeria.

She said, “Some of these sponsors, some of these people who are actually in the diaspora, we have a number of them who are actually instigating this mayhem that we’re seeing right now. What we have done is we have added them to our watch list.

“We have them on our radars, and we’re making sure that any attempt they make to come into the country we will notify the necessary authorities. And we’re working closely, of course, with the NIA and the DSS and the NSA so that all those we have in the diaspora that are actually trying to subvert the authority of this nation are on our radars.”

Nandap added that the Service had stepped up surveillance to prevent foreign intervention in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said the Police had equally uncovered some sponsors of the protests living in the diaspora.

The police chief said, “Although we are aware that some of the sponsors of this protest have a clear motive to subvert the government of the day, we are not going to allow that. We will defend our democracy.

“Then, the question is how we are countering funding of the protest. We are doing a lot that I won’t be able to immediately expose to you how we are countering funding.

“We have blocked some accounts and are still monitoring them. Some are outside the country, and we will still get them.”

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the security operatives were after those he identified as “enemies of the country.”

“It’s our duty to protect Nigerians. The only people we’re after are those who don’t know us well, the enemies of the state. And anyone who makes himself an enemy of the state will then be ready to face the law.

“We’re going to remain focused and committed, we’re going to respect human rights, the rights of everyone who is lawfully performing his duty.

“But we will not relent in pursuing those that have continued to encourage unconstitutional takeover of government. We will remain very professional,” Musa said.

He added that troops deployed across the country had been directed to respect human rights while going about their duties.

“We have told our men outside in the field that they must respect the rights of everyone.

“We encourage the youth to dialogue to understand that destruction and mob action do nobody any good.

“We know there are challenges in the country and these challenges are not only here,” said Musa. (The PUNCH, excluding headline)

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