Nigerian Police Arrests 10 Protesters For Flying Russian Flags, 101 Others For Violence in Gombe

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) said it has arrested 10 protesters for flying Russian flags in Gombe State and 101 others for violence-related charges on August 5th #EndBadGovernance protests.

Buhari Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of Gombe Police Command, disclosed this on Wednesday, stating that the protest escalated violently.

Officer Abdullahi, while addressing the press, said the looting of public and private properties witnessed in the state was a “grave concern,” as he cited the Gombe State Revenue Tribunal, Gombe State Bureau for Public Service Reform, NITEL Company, and Blue GM Motors, among others.

Such action not only undermines the rule of law but also disrupts communities and harms businesses,” he added.

In response to the foisting of Russian flags in the northern region, the Police considered it disrespectful to the national symbol and a treasonable felony-related offence.

While the security force has assured the public of investigating the motives behind such acts, some protesters reportedly stated that it was a call for help from the Russian government.

People are dying because of hunger. Tell President (Tinubu) to remove fuel subsidy,” says Lawal Saleh, a protester, while stating that they raised the flag because they are looking for help from Russia.

Another protester, Aliyu Abdullahi, stated, “Russia is communist. The West and the IMF are capitalists. They are exploiting our resources while our leaders remain their puppets, and we can not take it anymore.”

Under Section 41 (d) of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act, such an act is considered treason. However, the same Acts noted that “A person charged with any of the felonies defined in this section is not entitled to be acquitted on the ground that any act proved to have been committed by him constitutes the offence of treason; but a person who has been tried, and convicted or acquitted, on a charge of any such offence cannot be afterwards prosecuted for treason in respect of the same facts.”

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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