Nigerian police reported on Tuesday that they had arrested over 90 individuals carrying Russian flags during protests against economic hardship, now in their sixth day.
Thousands of people had joined demonstrations last week to protest against government policies and the high cost of living, as Africa’s most populous nation faces its worst economic crisis in decades.
Although the protests have largely subsided after clashes with security forces, hundreds of demonstrators continued to take to the streets on Monday in northern states like Kaduna, Katsina, and Kano, as well as in central Plateau state.
Some demonstrators were seen carrying Russian flags, prompting the Russian embassy to distance itself from the incident.
Northern Nigeria has significant cultural, religious, and economic connections with the Sahel region, which has experienced a series of coups and a recent pivot by military leaders from Western allies to Russia.
The presence of Russian flags at protests in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso has been noted, and their appearance in Nigeria elicited strong reactions from officials.
Regarding the Nigerian protesters, police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi reported on Tuesday that “more than 90 individuals were arrested with Russian flags.”
A spokesperson for Nigeria’s DSS security agency stated on social media that they had “detained several tailors in Kano State who were making the Russian flags being distributed in the area” and were investigating the matter.
Nigeria’s defense chief called the situation “completely unacceptable.”
General Christopher Musa remarked at a briefing in Abuja on Monday that “those encouraging people to display Russian flags in Nigeria are crossing a red line, and we will not tolerate it.”
The Russian embassy in Nigeria issued a denial of involvement through a statement on its website on Monday.
The statement acknowledged awareness of media and social media reports showing protesters in northern Nigeria carrying Russian flags and chanting support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It emphasized that neither the Russian Federation nor any Russian officials are involved in or coordinating these activities.
The statement described the act of waving Russian flags by some protesters as a personal choice.
Amnesty International has alleged that security forces killed at least 13 protesters on the first day of demonstrations, while police reported seven deaths and denied any wrongdoing.
In a televised address on Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for an end to the protests. Despite this, organizers have committed to continuing their demonstrations, demanding changes.
A representative from the Take It Back activist group stated that the protests will continue until their demands are addressed, including lower fuel prices and measures to tackle the rising cost of living following recent economic reforms.