Protest: DSS grills 7 foreigners arrested for waving Russian flags

The Department of State Services (DSS) has grilled no fewer than seven Polish nationals arrested for waving Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest in Kano State.

The DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

The arrest of the foreigners followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to crack down on protesters flying Russian flags in Nigeria.

The protest, which gained momentum in some northern states, including Abuja, Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Niger, and Kebbi, was marked by escalating violence.

The Star recalls that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) discovered that foreign mercenaries were involved in the protest against economic hardship in the country.

Speaking on the nationwide demonstration which commenced on August 1, the IGP said the police had been monitoring the threats surrounding the protest, adding that some groups were calling for violent protests to emulate the recent protest in Kenya.

Confirming the probe of the seven Polish nationals, the DSS spokesman, said the action was in line with democratic principles and respect for human rights.

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Afunanya, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, said: “Seven persons were picked up from Kano because of where they were found during the protest and display of foreign flag in Kano two days ago.

“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 by security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened. It is not a targeted operation.”

He further called for international cooperation in maintaining global stability, urging other nations not to allow their citizens to be used as instruments for undermining domestic peace in any country.

The DSS spokesperson added: “We plead that you do not offer your country to some persons who may be deviant or have a terrorist inclination in today’s global pursuit.

“If anything happens in a country, it affects the others. Nigeria is a country with a large population and I believe that the support other countries will give will help us.”

The Star