The Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed that some of the people behind the Russian flags being brandished by protesters in some Northern states have been arrested.
Some protesters have been brandishing Russian flags in Kano on Saturday. As of Monday, more protesters were also brandishing Russian flags in Kano, Katsina and Kaduna State. Many of the protesters, in trending videos on social media, were calling for the military to take over the administration of the country.
In a statement, on Monday, on X, the secret security service said, “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. Investigation is ongoing.”
Though DSS did not give much details on the arrested persons and their sponsors, Nigeria Police said Ahmed Taylor, from Nasarawa local government area of Kano State, was arrested on Monday for sewing Russian flags.
Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuwiya Adejobi, said this in a pressing briefing organized by the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Adejobi said the police would get to the sponsors of Taylor. He added that the motive behind the sewing of Russian flags and distributing it to protesters remains unclear.
Adejobi said, “To carry the flags of a foreign country on a land is a criminal offense. We have them arrested. Just this morning, we have arrested one ‘Ahmed Taylor’ from Nasarawa Local Government area of Kano state, for producing a large quantity of Russian flags given to young Nigerians to go and fly.
“For reasons known to him. We are profiling him. We want to get other sponsors like him. As I speak with you, the same thing has happened in Kaduna. Thus, as we started this briefing, we have been able to arrest 30 of them with same Russian flags.”