The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced the arrest of tailors in Kano State who were sewing Russian flags for the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters. This information was disclosed by DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya in a statement released on Monday in Abuja.
Afunanya confirmed that an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the sponsors behind the production of these flags. He clarified that contrary to some reports, the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Adaramoye Michael (also known as Michael Lenin), is not in DSS custody.
The DSS statement read, “The Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked.”
Earlier on Monday, the police reported the arrest of the supplier of the Russian flags along with 30 protesters. The nationwide protest, which began on Thursday, August 1, is a response to the widespread hardship experienced by Nigerian citizens.
The Russian Embassy in Nigeria responded on Monday, stating that its officials are not involved in or coordinating the activities of those waving Russian flags during the protests. The embassy emphasized that the use of Russian symbols by the protesters is due to personal choices and does not reflect any official policy or position of the Russian government.
The embassy reiterated, “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. These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals and do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government on the issue.”
