The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has declared that the act of flying Russian flags during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests is a treasonable offence.
This statement was made following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Monday.
Protests have erupted across Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, where demonstrators have been seen waving what appears to be a Russian flag. The display of this flag has raised significant concerns among security officials, leading to the CDS’s strong warning. Musa emphasized that any individual participating in such actions would be treated as committing treason, stating, “We will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria”.
In response to the situation, the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the stylist responsible for designing the controversial flag. However, the Russian embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from the incident, asserting that neither the government nor Russian officials are involved in the protests or the flags being flown.
The protests, which began on August 1, are primarily driven by widespread dissatisfaction with the high cost of living and government mismanagement. As tensions escalated, several northern states imposed curfews to maintain order, with reports indicating that at least 13 people have died amid the unrest, although police statistics differ.
Musa highlighted the military’s readiness to intervene if the protests escalate into violence, noting that the situation has been exploited by criminals leading to looting and chaos. He assured that security agencies are actively working to identify and prosecute those behind the distribution of foreign flags, particularly those using children to participate in these demonstrations.
The CDS’s remarks reflect a broader commitment from the Nigerian government to uphold national sovereignty and maintain peace during these turbulent times, reinforcing that any attempts to incite a coup or undermine democracy will not be tolerated
