The Nigerian police have arrested six Spanish nationals and 76 other individuals believed to be involved in sponsoring recent protests. These protests, marked by the hoisting of foreign flags and calls for governmental change, have erupted in various states, including Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, revealed that funders of the violent demonstrations have been identified both within and outside Nigeria. Their accounts have been blocked, and their sources of funding have been cut off.
Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, added that those sponsoring the protests from abroad are now on a watchlist and will be arrested upon entering Nigeria.
Service chiefs, including General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, and Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, have warned that the military will not tolerate any attempts to destabilize the country.
“The only people we are after is the enemy of the state who should be ready to face the law. We will not relent in pursuing those who continue to encourage subversion,” General Musa stated.
Protests have intensified in Port Harcourt, where demonstrators blocked major roads and marched to the residence of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Meanwhile, in Kano, the state government has relaxed its curfew to allow residents to go about their daily activities from 6 am to 6 pm.
The Kaduna State Police Command reported the arrest of 39 individuals, including a tailor sewing Russian flags for protesters. ASP Mansir Hassan, spokesperson for the command, confirmed that the police have recovered numerous foreign flags and other protest materials.
The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, disclosed that some sponsors have been identified but refrained from providing further details. Bichi’s agency has blocked certain accounts linked to these sponsors, who are being closely monitored.
In Abuja, the protest momentum has waned due to government restrictions. The few remaining demonstrators, including organizers Ene Obi and Hauwa Mustapha, criticized the government’s response to their demands.
