They cautioned Nigerians and the Federal Government to be on the lookout for foreign infiltration, saying the scene did not augur well for the nation.
The nationwide demonstrations were started on Thursday, August 1, in reaction to the suffering that the people of the nation were going through.
Security personnel are said to have murdered no fewer than 17 people and detained numerous demonstrators nationwide.

“We don’t want bad government,” the demonstrators in Kano screamed in Hausa as images and videos of them carrying the Russian flag went viral on Saturday.

Prominent Nigerians expressed worry about the consequences for the nation’s security.

Bulama Bukarti, an attorney, claimed that the pictures showed the increasing pro-Russian sentiment in Northern Nigeria.

“I’m particularly intrigued by two aspects of the ongoing hunger protest in Nigeria,” the writer said. First, there is a slight but increasing anti-Western sentiment that corresponds with the growing support for Russia, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Some protesters in Kano waved Nigerian flags alongside Russian flags, while some participants asked for Russian flags and Vladimir Putin photographs to be brought by demonstrators in order to request Russian aid.

The fact that these demonstrators appear to be unaffiliated with any pro-Russian organizations and are only making amateurish flags, as noted by @Aliyussufiy, the person who shot the original photo, is more worrisome as it suggests that this feeling is growing naturally. This tendency is probably going to continue, especially since bad actors might notice it and take advantage of it.

Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential assistant, requested that the government keep an eye on the situation and take preventative measures.

He continued, “This may point to a number of underlying attitudes or influences that the government needs to carefully evaluate and address.”

“President Vladimir Putin and Russia must be excited to learn that Russian flags were displayed by a number of protesters in Kano, northwest Nigeria, during today’s Enough Is Enough protest to #EndBadGovernace,” stated award-winning journalist Philip Obaji Jr.

Several West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have had coups, and Russia, an Eastern power, has been implicated in these events. The three nations’ military administrations have also left the Economic Community of West African States, which is overseen by Niger’s President Bola Tinubu.

Kawu Garba, a social media user, requested that the Department of State Services look into the event. “Why are the protesters in Kano waving Russian flags?” he asked. Is Russia funding demonstrations in Nigeria in order to incite chaos? @OfficialDSSNG should look into this. Political analyst Kayode Ogundamisi added that the demonstrators might not be well-informed. “Whoever on either side of the divide is in charge of handing out those Russian flags—pro- or anti-protest—that person is insane,” he declared. You guys really don’t know! Watch out for your wishes.

Although he denied knowing about the photos, Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi promised to get back to our correspondent. As of the time of publication, he hadn’t done so.

As of the time this story was filed, neither Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, nor Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, had returned calls or replied to messages left for them.

Security experts raise the alarm

Retired Brig.-Gen. Bashir Adewinbi warned Nigerians against plotting with foreign powers to compromise the nation’s security and democracy while analyzing the appearance of the Russian flag.

In an interview with NAIJA STREET MATTERS, Adewinbi called the state of affairs regrettable.

“It is regrettable that some Nigerians are participating in a national protest by waving foreign flags,” he stated. Our people need to exercise caution and make sure that no one has the opportunity to ruin our nation.

It is imperative to state that a coup is impossible in Nigeria. A coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu is not possible. He has educated the security chiefs who are with him. I don’t believe a senior commander in Nigeria will publicly declare something like to a coup. We shall uphold the people’s unity since we are all unified in it. Our democracy will be safeguarded.

Yemi Farounbi, a former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, urged the protest organizers to stay away from outside interference.

“It is a regrettable incident to fly the flag of a foreign country during your protest,” Farounbi declared. Recalling that Russia has a presence in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Congo makes one ask if they are experiencing an externalization or an external sign of an internal domestic protest against specific conditions.

“It’s tragic, and I don’t think the organizers intended that to happen.” That is undoubtedly not what Nigerians desire. They do not want the ideological conflict between the East and the West to have an effect on Nigeria. They oppose any takeover of the military operation in Nigeria that is supported by Russia.

It’s regrettable. Possibly this is the rationale for the patriotic protest organizers calling off the event before it becomes a vehicle for others to usurp their authority or use Nigeria as a piece in a game.

“Those who are aligned with this Russian government have split off from ECOWAS to establish an independent organization. Other West African nations ought to exercise caution when dealing with it.

Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, a former director of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanded that the Economic Community of West African States get in.

The proximity of Niger Republic to the region, he said, was the reason behind the push for Russian engagement in Northern Nigeria.

Professor Bola Akinterinwa, a former director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, speculated that the protesters dancing and raising the Russian flag might not be Nigerians.

“It’s possible that the protesters dancing and flying Russian flags are Nigeriens rather than Nigerians,” Akinterinwa remarked.

He emphasized that because of charges of poor leadership, the protest—which was first scheduled for August 1–10—may turn into a more forceful call for President Tinubu’s departure.

“The current situation could prompt a coup d’état,” the former director general of the NIIA issued a warning.

Former DSS Director Mike Ejiofor, for his part, stated that the government and security organizations shouldn’t treat the matter lightly. “In the security circle, such undesirable behavior is not disregarded. As you may remember, the DSS possessed an intelligence assessment indicating that there was foreign meddling in the situation and that the demonstrators’ goal was to overthrow the current government. Russia has no right to meddle in Nigeria’s domestic affairs. “Even if the National Intelligence Agency and the State Security Service have already identified these threats, we still need to step up our efforts to acquire intelligence on them. According to Ejiofor, citizens must also be aware of their surroundings and take security precautions.

“The main issue is about regime security. The Russians do not mind having military coup detat and military government in this State, but the US and the Western power are concerned about democracy,” stated Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, Head of Research Savannah Centre for Development and Training. In areas where they feel threatened, the Russians are attempting to establish regime security for their power.

This is a novel development that warrants our attention. It indicates that there are advocates for this new movement, and that Niger and Mali are exerting pressure on Nigeria to keep it unstable. Nigeria need to be concerned about this, as it indicates that Russian influence is currently expanding within Nigeria.

Given the current state of affairs in the Sahel, where Russian influence is evident throughout the region—Russians are already present in Sudan, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic—it is not surprising that there are elements in Kano that wish to delve deeper into the subject of Russian influence in Africa.

“It’s becoming a trend throughout Africa since the majority of African nations currently harbor anti-American and anti-French sentiments and are searching for alternative security arrangements. You are aware of the Wagner African Corps, an influence that is truly exerting pressure on Africa. They are exerting pressure on Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic. This represents a new trend in security challenges, as Russia is challenging African sovereignty and bringing us back to the Cold War era between the West and Russia.

Russia disputes any involvement.

However, Yury Paramonov, the press secretary for the Russian Embassy, denied that Russia was involved in the current protests taking place in the nation.

“We do not have any information about any protest groups using the Russian flag or other state symbols of our country,” he stated, speaking for the Russian Embassy in Nigeria. We would appreciate it if The Punch could offer us with such photo or video assets, if any exist, as we haven’t seen them. If occurrences of this nature were to occur, it would ultimately come down to personal choice. Why they would have utilized Russian flags is unknown to us.

“The current events in Nigeria are not connected in any manner to the Russian Federation.” Furthermore, Russia doesn’t give the demonstrators any material or monetary assistance.