Military Warns Waving Russian Flags at Protests is Treason, Punishable by Death

The Nigerian military has issued a stern warning against protesters waving Russian flags, labeling such actions as treasonable and punishable by death.

General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, delivered this warning on Monday following a security briefing with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

“We have observed foreign flags being flown within Nigeria’s sovereign territory, and this is entirely unacceptable,” General Musa stated. “We are issuing a clear warning, as directed by the President: flying a foreign flag in Nigeria is a treasonable offense, and it will be treated as such. We urge all citizens not to allow themselves to be manipulated by any external or internal forces.”

General Musa also provided an update on the ongoing situation, noting that, “Initially, when the riots began, they were described as peaceful. However, it has become evident that certain individuals are exploiting the unrest to incite violence and disorder. Since the protests began, there has been a surge in criminal activities, including looting and theft.”

On Monday, large crowds of protesters waving Russian flags took to the streets in Kaduna, Kano, and Bauchi. This marked the fifth day of nationwide protests spurred by the ongoing economic crisis in the country.

In a related development, the State Security Service (SSS) announced the arrest of several tailors in Kano state who allegedly produced Russian flags that were distributed and used during the #EndBadGovernance protests.