The Department of State Services has said its operatives have arrested some tailors sewing Russian flags for #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in Kano State.
The secret police made this known in a statement issued by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in Abuja on Monday.
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 police, earlier on Monday, also said the supplier of the Russian flag and 30 protesters were arrested.
The nationwide protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.
It had been exclusively reported how former envoys and ex-military officers expressed worry as demonstrators in some northern states were seen waving the Russian flag and chanting in Hausa, “Welcome, Russia; Welcome, Russia.”
Russia, an Eastern power currently mired in a cold war with the West, has been blamed for several unconstitutional changes of government in West African countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, among others.
Reacting, 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 are 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.