Bad governance protest: Anybody hoisting foreign flags will be charged for treasonable offence, says Nigerian government
The Nigerian government has warned protesters against hoisting foreign flags, declaring that anybody or group caught in the act will be charged for treasonable offence, just as the military has expressed readiness to help in stopping the protests if they turn violent.
Penpushing reports that, the Defence Chief, General Christopher Musa made this clear on Monday after a meeting between security chiefs and President Bola Tinubu emphasizing that the authorities will as well not tolerate calls for coups.
The military boss disclosed that the meeting discussed the calls for a coup and the hoisting of Russian flags by some protesters in some northern states like Kaduna and Kano, adding that the President directed him to convey the warning message
“We are warning in clear terms and the president has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria. That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual’, he stressed
‘Nigeria is a sovereign nation. Nigeria is a democratic nation. All security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to strive. We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government’, Musa added
“We’ve said clearly that the military is going to step in when it is out of hand, and you can see that for people supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria, that is crossing the red line and we will not accept that’, he stated
“For those of them flying flags and if you’ll see a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that. We’re following up with those sponsoring them. Initially, when the riot started, they said it was a peaceful riot but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem. Criminals have taken over, a lot of looting taking place, stealing and all sorts happening”, he added
Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that some protesters in Kaduna raised Russian flags and called for a coup on Monday, a day after some had made similar calls in Kano, and took advantage of the bad governance protests across the country where protesters are calling for economic and political reforms.
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