The Nigerian Police Force said its operatives have arrested one Ahmed Tailor, a Russian flags producer and distributor, while 30 other persons were apprehended in Kano for flying the Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernace protests while also calling for regime change.
Police Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi announced this at the monthly briefing of the Strategic Communications Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) held at the DSS headquarters, in Abuja.
Adejobi said Ahmed Tailor was arrested in Nasarawa local government area of Kano State for mass producing and distributing Russian flags to young persons, adding that investigation was ongoing to arrest more sponsors.
The police spokesman added that operatives also arrested 873 others for rioting in the name of hunger protest.
Adejobi said while those carrying Russian flags will be charged for treasonable felony, the 873 others will be charged for committing other criminal offences.
He said contrary to reports, no protester was arrested during the protest, on the other hand, the police imagemaker said, “Those that have been arrested so far are criminally-minded individuals who went out engaging in various criminal offenses, breaking, armed robbery, mischief, homicide, malicious damage, massive destruction of private and public facilities.
“They are rioters and criminally-minded persons. We have arrested so far 873 suspects and these suspects are those who are directly connected to one criminal offense or the other. Where one alleges Police have arrested protesters, please let me know the protester,” Adejobi asked.
Speaking on allegations that some persons arrested during the #EndSARS protests were still being held by the police, the FPRO said, “We don’t have any EndSARS Protesters in any of our facilities in Nigeria. Those who are in correctional facilities are criminals who have been charged to court for criminal offenses.
“No single EndSARS Protester is being incarcerated or kept in any of our facilities in Nigeria. Those who attacked Oba of Lagos’ Palace are not protesters.
“We have also been able to arrest some individuals who are calling for subversion and who are engaging in treasonable felony. Carrying flag of a foreign country in our land is a treasonable offense thus, this morning we have arrested one Ahmed Tailor in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State for producing in large quantities Russian flags and giving to young people to go and fly out. For reasons known to him.
“We are profiling him, we want to get sponsors like him. As I speak with you, the same thing is happening in Kaduna. We have been able to arrest 30 with same Russian flags.”
Details later…
