Tinubu Condemns Hoisting of Foreign Flags During Protests
By As the nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance entered their fifth day, President Bola Tinubu convened a National Security Council meeting to address security threats facing the country.
Held in the President’s office at the State House in Abuja, the meeting also discussed the troubling trend of protesters hoisting Russian flags in some northern states.
After the meeting, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, labeled the hoisting of Russian flags in Nigerian cities as a treasonable offense.
General Musa emphasized that the military would not tolerate any attempts to destabilize the democratically elected government, ruling out any possibility of a coup.
Recent protests in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Plateau states have seen the hoisting of Russian flags, a move condemned by the CDS, who warned that those responsible would face legal consequences.
“We briefed Mr. President on the situation. Initially, the protests were peaceful, but criminals have since taken advantage, leading to looting and other crimes. The display of foreign flags within Nigeria’s borders is unacceptable,” General Musa stated.
He continued, “The President has directed us to ensure that no one flies any foreign flag in Nigeria. This is a treasonable offense and will be treated as such. We are investigating those sponsoring these actions and will take serious measures against them. Our collective aim is to maintain peace and tranquility in Nigeria.”
Addressing rumors of a potential coup, General Musa affirmed, “Nigeria is a sovereign, democratic nation. All security agencies are committed to defending democracy. We will not tolerate any actions aimed at changing the government undemocratically. Democracy is our priority, and we will defend it vigorously.”
When asked about allegations that some soldiers were involved in looting, General Musa clarified, “There was a misconception. The soldiers were actually trying to clear looted items from the area. We have thoroughly investigated and found no wrongdoing by our armed forces.”
General Musa reiterated the military’s readiness to intervene if the protests escalate further, stating, “Those flying foreign flags and those sponsoring them will face prosecution. This is a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty.”
The meeting was attended by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and heads of various security and law enforcement agencies, including the three service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Col Adewale Adeniyi, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Kemi Nanna Nandap.
