…As Russia distances self
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
As the nationwide protests against hardship and bad governance entered its day five, the Department of State Services, DSS, Monday, said its operatives had arrested some tailors in Kano allegedly sewing Russian flags for the protesters.
This was contained in a statement by the DSS Spokesperson, Peter Afunanya.
Meanwhile, the Russian Government has dissociated itself from those hoisting and waiving the country’s flag in some Northern states during the protest.
Afunanya stated that an investigation into the matter had commenced, and sponsors of the tailors would be apprehended very soon.
The DSS spokesman also disclosed that the DSS did not arrest the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Adaramoye Michael, also known as Michael Lenin.
He added that the activist was not in its custody.
The 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.”
It added, “The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody.”
The nationwide protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.
Some protesters in some Northern states were seen waving Russian flag and chanting in Hausa, “Welcome, Russia; Welcome, Russia.”
Russia, an Eastern power currently engrossed in a cold war with the West, has been fingered for several unconstitutional changes of power in some West African countries.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which recently broke out of ECOWAS, are believed to be enjoying the backing of Russia.
The West had initially attempted to embark on military confrontation using Nigeria against the trio but internal pressure against the Nigeria Government made the President to drop the military option.
The three Francophone countries which have since formed an alliance vowed not to return to ECOWAS.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria on Monday said its officials are not involved and do not coordinate the activities of those waving Russian flags during #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in parts of the country.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the embassy said neither the Russian government nor any of its officials is involved in the activities of the protesters.
The embassy attributed the use of Russian symbols by the protesters to personal choices, saying it does not reflect any official policy or position of the Russian Government.
Recall that the nationwide protests have been boycotted in the South-East as the people went about their daily activities.
They said that the protest might not have any positive outcome, adding that most times Ndigbo would end up as the target, hence the decision of Igbo youths to shun the protest.
