Written by Obi Adetayo
ABUJA (Reuters) – Seven Poles have been arrested in Nigeria for waving Russian flags during anti-government protests this week in the northern state of Kano, state security spokesman Peter Afunanya said on Wednesday.
Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting since August 1 against painful economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu that have led to a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies, a devaluation of the currency and inflation rising to its highest levels in three decades.
Some protesters waved Russian flags during protests this week in northern states, underscoring concerns about increased Russian activity in West Africa. Security services detained some tailors they said made the banners.
The Poles were arrested during security efforts by the State Services Administration, Avonanya said. He did not give details about their identities, but said the operations did not target Polish citizens.
The Polish consul in Nigeria, Stanislaw Golinski, confirmed the arrests during a meeting between Nigeria’s foreign minister and diplomats in the capital, Abuja.
“They were arrested two days ago in Kano and the last I heard was that they were on the plane to Abuja from Kano,” he said.
Golinsky declined to comment further when contacted by Reuters.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has described the raising of a foreign flag during anti-government protests as a “treasonous crime” after holding security talks with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
In the northern states of Borno, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina, protesters were seen waving hundreds of Russian flags, with some calling for a military takeover.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement.