Abuja: Nigeria has detained several tailors responsible for producing Russian flags that were prominently displayed during anti-government protests this week in the northern states. The Department of State Services (DSS) reported the arrests, highlighting concerns about rising Russian influence in Western Africa.
In a recent post on X, the DSS also mentioned detaining some of the tailors’ “sponsors”, although details regarding their identities or the number detained were not provided. The agency noted that the investigation is still ongoing.
General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, labeled the display of a foreign flag during the protests as a “treasonable offence” following security discussions with President Bola Tinubu. “We have identified those [sponsoring them] and we are going to take serious action against that,” Musa said, without further elaboration.
Since August 1, Nigeria has witnessed widespread protests against President Tinubu’s stringent economic reforms, which include partial subsidies removal for petrol and electricity, currency devaluation, and soaring inflation. The protests, which had escalated to a deadly police crackdown, have now diminished.
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In the northern states of Borno, Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina, demonstrators waved Russian flags and some even called for a military coup. “We are waving the Russian flag because Tinubu’s government is not listening to us. Russian presidents always support African nations’ development, unlike other nations,” said Lawal Kodo, a 28-year-old protester from Kano, in an interview with Reuters.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria swiftly denied any involvement, stating, “The Government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way,” in a statement released late Monday.
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These protests come amid growing Western apprehension regarding Russia’s security ties with various African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military leaders have recently taken power in coups. Security experts suggest that many protesters view the economic crisis as a direct consequence of reforms imposed by Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
“The Russian flags that appeared during the protests in northern states, and the calls for a military coup, reflect discontent over the government’s policies rather than showcasing support for a Russia-backed military government,” commented Mucahid Durmaz, Senior Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence firm.
