The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning against the display of foreign flags and calls for a military coup during protests, labeling such actions as severe crimes under Nigerian law.
This announcement follows recent protests in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina States where demonstrators were seen waving foreign flags. The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, released a statement on Tuesday via X, relaying the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s concerns. Egbetokun emphasized, “The use of foreign flags during protests and openly calling for a military takeover of the government is a capital offence under Nigerian law.”
The police have found evidence suggesting that certain protest organizers are orchestrating these activities. The statement highlighted, “Evidence shows that these sponsors have paid significant sums to exploit the hardship protests, brainwashing, and misleading innocent children into aiding this campaign against the government.”
As part of the ongoing crackdown, over 90 suspects have been apprehended, including those involved in producing the foreign flags and their financial backers. The police are actively seeking out others believed to be funding these “treasonable acts.”
Egbetokun has taken decisive action by deploying Deputy Inspectors General of Police, DIGs Bala Ciroma and Bello Makwashi, to manage operations in the troubled Northwest and Northeast zones. The police are also cautioning Nigerian youths to be wary of individuals and groups who might turn protests into profit-making ventures, supported by local or foreign sponsors aiming to destabilize the nation.
While acknowledging that tensions have decreased since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address on August 4, the police noted that some groups persist in unlawful activities. The statement pointed out, “Some groups persist in subversive campaigns in the form of violent and unlawful protests, characterized by the destruction of public infrastructure and private property, looting, display of foreign flags, and calls for a military takeover. These individuals and groups will be treated as subversive agents and charged accordingly.”
