The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said that Nigeria’s defence and security agencies are now after those that are behind the call for undemocratic change of government.
Stating that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) is aware that some protesters calling for regime change are sponsored, General Musa, who spoke at the end of a meeting of the nation’s defence and security chiefs at Defence Headquarters Abuja, said the military is trailing and will arrest the sponsors.
Present at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Intelligence, representative of the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Controller-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Commandant-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
Musa also announced that some sponsors of protesters flying Russian flags have been arrested, while their bank accounts have been frozen.
On Monday, after the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) presided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the CDS had spoken on the twin issues of call for undemocratic change of government and waving of Russian flags by some protesters, saying: “Initially, when the riot started they said it was a peaceful one 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 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 offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.
“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 strive. 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.
“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 ones are sponsoring them. Those are pushing them because you know, the flies 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.
“We’ve said that clearly that the military is going to step in when it is out of hand and you can see that for people supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria, Nigeria sovereignty, that is crossing the red line and we will not accept that. And those ones who have done that will go in for the books and they want to be prosecuted.”
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Tuesday, cautioned protesters to avoid “undemocratic forces” using the nationwide hunger protest to call for a military coup in the country.
Falana spoke in a Channels Television programme following the waving of Russian flags by some protesters and calls for a change of government.
Falana, who emphasised the rights of Nigerians to peaceful protests as outlined in sections 39 and 40 of the constitution, stated: “While we support the right of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for a military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country known for supporting unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for an unconstitutional change of government.”
The legal practitioner further warned “those involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule,” adding that “they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.”