The issue of law and order took preeminence at the meeting of Nigeria’s National Security Council met under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance entered the fifth day on Monday.
The meeting, held at the President’s office, Presidential Villa, Abuja, reviewed security threats to the country including the new trend of protesters hoisting the Russian flag in some States of Northern Nigeria.
Those in attendance include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. Others include 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), Adewale Adeniyi; as well as the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, who spoke to journalists at the end of the meeting, described as treasonable, the hoisting of Russian flags in the cities of Nigeria by the protesters while ruling out the possibility of coup to remove the democratically elected government.
General Musa also vowed that the Nigerian military would not allow any such attempt to topple democracy to succeed.
Musa stated that the protesters, especially in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Plateau States who have been hoisting Russian flags since last Saturday would face the wrath of the law.
According to him: “We went to brief Mr President on the situation on 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 totally unacceptable.
“We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria. That is treasonable offense, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.
“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 that. The President is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility 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 tranquility in Nigeria, that we have assured Mr. President.”
On the issue of coup as being rumoured in some quarters, the CDS stated: “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 actually 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.”
General Musa reiterated his earlier position that the military will step in to quell the protests if 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 ones 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.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested no fewer than 30 #Endbadgovernance protesters for waving Russian flags in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi States.
Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said 873 other protesters have been arrested by the Police, including a tailor, identified as Ahmed Bello, who was arrested with a large number of flags in Kano.
Speaking at the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee joint press briefing, in Abuja, on Monday, Adejobi stated that the police were on the trail of other suspects, especially the sponsors of the protesters waving the Russian foreign flags.
Protesters in their numbers had been seen waving Russian flags around the busy Kano-Zaria Road, Hadejia Road and near the Nyanya Bridge, a suburb of Abuja, among others.
Aside from protesting the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, the demonstrating youths also called for the intervention of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Viral photos and videos showed demonstrators waving the flags as they chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”
On Monday, protesters in Kaduna were also seen waving the Russian flags and chanting in Hausa, “Welcome, Russia; Welcome, Russia.”
The protesters regrouped at the Stadium Roundabout before they embarked on a procession at 10:15am Monday morning, marching along the Junction Road towards Ahmadu Bello Road and chanting in Hausa, “Tinubu ze soka’ kaa’sa,” which translates to, “Tinubu must step down.”
They hailed military personnel, who patrolled the metropolis, chanting, “Tinubu yaa’so’ka, mu’na so soja”, meaning, “Tinubu step down, we want soldiers.”
A few of the protesters waved the Russian flag and chanted the Hausa refrain, “Bama so”, meaning “We don’t want hunger.”
Another group of the protesters tore the Nigerian flag into shreds.
When a PUNCH Correspondent asked one of the protesters why they were flying the Russian flag, he said they wanted Nigeria to embrace the Russian government’s style of leadership like some of the countries in the West African region had already done.
“The American and British governments are the ones teaching all our leaders how to kill Nigeria’s economy.
“We are tired of them. Nigeria is tired of their wickedness and hypocrisy. So, like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, we want Nigeria to embrace Russia. We like Russia’s style. They are better than USA and Britain, who have nothing for the people except our leaders, who are benefitting from them,” the protester stated.