…Service Chiefs, IGP Vow To Defend Nigeria’s Democracy
…. DSS, Immigration freeze suspected sponsors bank account, place them on watchlist
… Police Begins Trial Of Over 800 Arrested Protesters
The Kano police command says its operatives have arrested several foreign nationals suspected to be the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.
Salman Dogo, the police commissioner in Kano, spoke on Tuesday after a meeting with Abba Yusuf, the governor of the state.
Protesters started waving foreign flags in Kano on August 1, the first day of the protest.
The protesters waved Russian flags and called on President Vladimir Putin to intervene in Nigeria.
The trend spread to Jos, Kaduna, and Abuja, where protesters trooped to the streets with Russian flags.
Dogo said the development raised concern among security agencies, leading them to arrest the foreign suspects after intensified operations.
“The police and other security agencies will clamp down on anyone attempting to tamper with the security of the state,” Dogo said.
The police commissioner said authorities are taking necessary steps to ensure peace and order returns to the state, adding that the governor has also relaxed the 24-hour curfew to now run from 6am to 6pm.
Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), had warned that it is a treasonable offence for #EndBadGovernance protesters to fly foreign flags in the country.
The CDS assured that security agencies will continue to defend the nation’s democracy.
Service Chiefs, IGP Vow To Defend Nigeria’s Democracy
Nigeria’s service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police have vowed to resist any unlawful change of government amid the #EndBadGovernance protests rocking the nation.
Thousands of Nigerians had trooped into the streets owing to the rising cost of living. Days into the demonstrations, some of the protesters in the northern region were spotted waving the Russian flag, a development that has caused concern among stakeholders.
“I want to, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, state unequivocally that the Nigerian Army stands assured in defense of our democracy, peace, and harmony and we are not going to shift ground on that.
“So my appeal to youths is that what we have witnessed in the past five days is an investment, needless investment of blood of treasure,” the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja said.
“Calling for an unconstitutional change of government. The army will not sit by and watch the nation slide into anarchy
‘Ofense of Treason’
On his part, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) warned those he said started subversive campaigns by waving the Russian flag.
He said some of them have been arrested and will be dealt with decisively for the offence the IGP said constitutes a treasonable felony.
“This is not a protest but an offense of treason. The Nigeria police have arrested a number of them and they will be dealt with accordingly,” the IGP.
“It is very, very implicating for them to be seen with flags of other countries while on protest.”
‘Unconstitutional Take Over’
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa also echoed a similar sentiment, warning those who encourage what he described as the “unconstitutional take over of government.”
“We’re going to respect human rights, the rights of everyone who is lawfully performing his task or his duty,” the CDS said.
“But we would not relent in pursuing those that have continued to encourage unconstitutional take over of government or subversion or those into vandalising or destruction of lives and properties.”
‘They Have Been Watchlisted’
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Comptroller-General Kemi Nandap was also part of the briefing and said the sponsors of the “mayhem” that greeted the protests have been identified and on its watchlist.
“Some of these sponsors are in the diaspora. We have a number of them who actually instigated this mayhem we are seeing right now. What we have done is that we have them on our watchlist; they have been watchlisted,” the NIS chief said.
“They are in our radius. We are making sure any attempt they make to come into the country, we’ll notify the necessary authorities and we working closely with the NIA and of course, the DSS and the NSA’s office.”
The spokesman of the Department of the State Services (DSS) Peter Afunanya also promised to name the sponsors of those carrying the Russian flag.
According to him, the DSS sees the development as an insurrection to Nigerians. He called on Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government.
One of the reasons for the protests is the high cost of food items. To address the issue, the Federal Government had earlier suspended duties and taxes on imported food and pharmaceutical items.
‘Bring Down Prices of Food Items’
At the briefing, the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi said the measure will help to reduce the prices of food items.
“The protest was premised on a number of things, one of them being to end hunger. We discovered that a significant amount of food consumed in Nigeria is imported. Importation takes some time. So, one of the things the president has done to cushion the effect of the cost of importation is to suspend customs duties and taxes on imported food items for a period of time,” he said.
“We believe that when this is implemented, it will help to bring down prices of food items in the markets. Nigerian Customs is committed to the implementation of this particular fiscal policy as enunciated by the government.”
Police Begins Trial Of Over 800 Arrested Protesters
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has announced the commencement of the trials of suspects who were arrested during the recent #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
Salient Times had earlier reported that over 800 individuals were detained for various offenses related to the ongoing nationwide protests.
Speaking at heads of security agency meeting on Tuesday, Egbetokun highlighted the situation in Kano, where the large number of arrests necessitated holding the trials at the police headquarters.
Given details of the trail, the Police boss said, “I want to inform you that the trials of those arrested during the protests have begun.
“In Kano, for example, because of the large number of arrests, the magistrate moved to the police headquarters, and that is where the trials are currently ongoing.
“If you visit the police headquarters in Kano now, you will see that the arrested individuals are already being tried. We are not keeping them indefinitely,” the IGP reiterates.
