The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has warned that calls for military takeover and the display of Russian or any foreign flags are acts of treasonable felony.
While talking tough on the recent happenings around the nationwide protests currently going on in some states, the Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said ongoing investigations revealed that protest organisers in some states are luring innocent children into participating in these unpatriotic and criminal acts.
He also said the police have arrested over 90 suspects, including tailors who sewed the flags and their sponsors.
Part of the statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning against the display of foreign flags during protests and calls for a military takeover, categorizing such actions as treasonable felonies under Nigerian law. This follows a wave of violent protests, particularly in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina States, where protesters brandished foreign flags.
“Ongoing investigations revealed that protest organizers in the states mentioned above are luring innocent children into participating in these unpatriotic and criminal acts.
“The display of foreign flags and calls for a military takeover constitutes a clear treasonable offense, revealing the motives of protest organizers to destabilize Nigeria‘s democratic government. This aligns with actionable intelligence on the tactics of fifth columnists and non-state actors exploiting economic hardship protests to further their nefarious goals.”
Speaking further on the protest, the Police said: „Tensions from the ongoing protests have eased following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s address on August 4, 2024.
“However, 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.
“The inspector general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has directed deputy inspectors general of police for the Northwest and Northeast zones, DIGs Bala Ciroma and Bello Makwashi, to take charge of operations in the states within the two geo-political zones where subversive campaigns are ongoing under the guise of protests.
They are tasked with stabilizing the situation and preventing further violence in the affected states.“
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