After Jahit Tukang, Nigeria Arrested 7 Polish Citizens Who Raised The Russian Flag

Russian/ILLUSTRATION Flag UNSPLASH/Trofim Ivliev

JAKARTA - Nigeria arrested seven Polish nationals for raising Russian flags during anti-government protests this week in the northern state of Kano,

Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting since August 1 against economic reforms by the President of Tinubu Bola which resulted in the end of part of gasoline and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation, and inflation that touched the highest number in three decades.

Several protesters raised Russian flags during this week's protests in northern states, underscoring concerns about increasing Russian activity in western Africa. Security officers detained some of the tailors they said made the banner.

Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, August 7, Peter Afunanya, a spokesman for the state security service said Polish citizens were detained during the Ministry of Foreign Services' efforts to enforce security.

The Afghans did not provide details about who they were, but said the operation did not target Polish citizens.

Stanislaw Gulinski, Poland's consul for Nigeria, confirmed the arrest at a meeting between Nigerian foreign ministers and diplomats in the capital, Abuja.

"They were arrested two days ago in Kano and last I heard, they were on the plane to Abuja from Kano," he said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, called the raising of foreign flags during anti-government protests a "traisal violation" after he held security talks with the President of Tinubu Ball on Monday.

In northern states of Borno, Kaduna, Kao and Katsina, protesters were seen waving hundreds of Russian flags, and some of them calling for a military takeover. The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has denied involvement.