In a decisive statement, the Nigerian government has made it clear that it will not tolerate any calls for coups or the display of foreign flags during ongoing protests. This announcement came from Defence Chief Christopher Musa following a meeting with security officials and President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
General Musa pointed out that the meeting specifically addressed the alarming rise of coup calls and the waving of Russian flags by some protesters in northern states, including Kaduna and Kano. “We are warning in clear terms that we will not accept any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria,” he emphasized, labeling such actions as treasonous.
He reiterated the nation’s sovereignty and democratic status, assuring that all security agencies are committed to upholding democracy. “We will not accept anyone pushing for any change of government,” he affirmed.
The statement follows reports of protesters raising Russian flags while demanding significant political and economic reforms amid the #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1 and are set to last for ten days. These protests have emerged in response to the increasing cost of living and food shortages in Nigeria, with demonstrators voicing their frustrations across several cities.
The protests have, unfortunately, turned violent in some areas, prompting authorities in five northern states to impose 24-hour curfews. While the government aims to manage the situation, there have been reports of fatalities, with Amnesty International citing 13 deaths attributed to the unrest.
As the protests continue, the military has indicated its readiness to intervene if necessary, particularly in response to provocations like the display of foreign flags. General Musa noted that some of those involved were minors being manipulated by external forces.
In light of these developments, the Nigerian government is taking steps to restore order while navigating the complex landscape of public dissent fueled by economic grievances.
