The Nigerian army has mentioned that the starvation protest has been hijacked by criminals and expressed concern on the risks it poses to the nation.
In a warning to protesters and dissidents on Monday, Chief of Defence Employees (CDS), Common Chris Musa, has declared that waving overseas flags inside Nigerian territory constitutes a treasonable offence.
This pronouncement got here following a gathering between safety chiefs and President Bola Tinubu on the presidential Villa, Abuja, through which they mentioned the continuing unrest within the nation.
CDS Musa, chatting with State Home correspondents after the assembly, expressed grave concern over the show of overseas flags throughout current protests.
He lamented that what started as a peaceable protest has been exploited by criminals, leading to widespread looting and theft.
Of explicit concern to the army management is overseas flags being waved on Nigerian territory, which Musa labelled as “completely unacceptable” and a “treasonable offence.”
RELATED: Russia Dissociates From Nigerian Protesters Waving Its Flag
He mentioned, “We wished to temporary Mr President on the state of affairs on the bottom. Initially, when the riot began they mentioned it was a peaceable riot, however we’ve got realised that there are people which can be keen to reap the benefits of it to trigger mayhem.
“And we are able to see clearly what has occurred because it has commenced. Criminals have taken over, a number of looting going down, stealing and all types occurring.
“And apart from, all of us have seen it the place overseas flags have been flown inside the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that’s completely unacceptable. We’re warning in clear phrases and the President has additionally mentioned we must always convey this; that we are going to not settle for anyone, any particular person waving any overseas flag in Nigeria.
“That may be a treasonable offence, and it is going to be seen and handled as such. So no person shall permit himself for use by any particular person.”
The CDS additionally addressed rumours of potential coups, firmly asserting that each one safety businesses are dedicated to defending Nigeria’s democracy.
“Additionally the problem of coups, Nigeria is a sovereign nation, all safety businesses are right here to defend democracy and be certain that democracy continues to try.
“We is not going to settle for anybody pushing or taking any motion, seemingly or for no matter cause, to wish to push for any change of presidency,” he added.
Musa revealed that the authorities had recognized people chargeable for manufacturing and distributing overseas flags, lots of whom are reportedly utilizing youngsters to hold out these actions.
He promised “critical motion” towards these orchestrating these efforts.
”For these of them carrying flags and in the event you’ll see a number of them are youngsters being pushed to do this. We’re following up with those that are sponsoring them. We now have recognized these areas and we’re going to take critical motion towards them.
“The president is obvious on his directions for us to not settle for anybody that wishes to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria.”
Responding to allegations of army involvement in looting, Musa dismissed the claims as misconceptions, stating {that a} thorough investigation had cleared armed forces personnel of any such wrongdoing.
He gave assurance that the army must step in to take care of inside peace if the protest received out of hand.
“We’ve mentioned clearly that the army goes to step in when it’s out of hand, and you’ll see that for individuals supervising parts to push people to hold Russian flags in Nigeria, Nigeria sovereignty, that’s crossing the pink line and we is not going to settle for that. And those that have performed that may go in for it and they are going to be prosecuted,” he acknowledged.
Kaduna
In the meantime, the Kaduna State Safety Council has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities with speedy impact following the outbreak of protests on Monday.
An announcement issued by the overseeing commissioner of the Ministry of Inner Safety and Dwelling Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, suggested residents to stay indoors whereas safety forces proceed to work to take care of security and safety.
In line with the assertion, there’s ample proof to point that the continuing protest has been hijacked by legal parts who’ve resorted to looting outlets and destroying non-public and public property.
Nonetheless, youths got here out in giant numbers on Monday carrying placards and protesting the hardship within the nation, with quite a few them sighted carrying Russian flags.
The protest was hijacked by hoodlums who attacked services, together with a financial institution positioned in Tudun Wada the place autos of workers packed inside the financial institution’s premises had been destroyed and priceless objects stolen.
Nonetheless, following the 24-hour curfew imposed by Governor Uba Sani, normalcy has returned to the streets as safety personnel carrying pink bands on their arms have efficiently dispersed the hoodlums who engaged in vandalising and looting.
LEADERSHIP remembers that 25 of such hoodlums who attacked authorities services on the primary day of the protest had been arrested.
Our correspondent, who monitored the protest and narrowly escaped being attacked by the hoodlums, studies that if not for the proactive steps taken by the federal government with the speedy imposition of the curfew, the state of affairs might have resulted in additional violence.
In the meantime, the protest was solely inside Kaduna North and a few components of the Kaduna Central that borders Kaduna North; Southern Kaduna was comparatively peaceable.
The streets of the Kaduna metropolis had been abandoned shortly after the curfew imposed on the Kaduna and Zaria Metropolitan areas. Some Kaduna residents who spoke to our correspondents counseled the governor for imposing the curfew.
Zamfara protesters wave Russia Flags
In Zamfara, protesters of their 1000’s defied safety operatives and took to the streets of Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, waving Russian flags and calling on President Vladimir Putin to come back to the rescue of the Nigerian lots.
Early within the morning, the protesters got here out from all components of Gusau city, carrying tree leaves and Russian flags, chanting completely different slogans to point their grievances towards the Nigerian authorities.
When our correspondent interviewed a lot of the protesters, they mentioned they carried the Russian flags to point the nation’s grievances and that they wanted an pressing response from President Putin to rescue the nation from its current predicament.
Nonetheless, safety businesses comprising the army, police, and civil defence, amongst others, had been in good numbers throughout the state to take care of regulation and order.
Curfew In Bauchi After Protesters Destroyed Govt Home, Ex-Deputy Governor’s Residence
In an try to deal with the rising destruction of property in Azare as the results of the continuing #EndBadGovernance protest, the Bauchi State Authorities has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Azare in Katagum native authorities space.
LEADERSHIP gathered the curfew got here after protesters destroyed a authorities lodge, generally referred to Azare Authorities Home, and the residence of the speedy previous deputy governor of the state, Baba Tela.
A resident of Azare who pleaded for anonymity mentioned the protesters additionally went to Katagum native authorities secretariat however he didn’t have particulars in regards to the extent of harm.
Russia Distances Self From Protesters Utilizing Its Flag
The Russian Federation has distanced itself from Nigerian protesters utilizing its flags and different symbols of the Russian state to indicate their anger towards the insurance policies of President Bola Tinubu amid the continuing #EndBadGovernance protests that hit Nigerian cities from August 1.
An announcement issued on Monday by the Russian Embassy in Abuja denied involvement in using these symbols, stressing that Russia doesn’t intrude within the inside affairs of any nation.
