Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), has stated that many of the protesters flying the Russian flag during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in northern Nigeria are actually Nigeriens.
Protesters in Kano, Kaduna and Zamfara states were observed displaying the Russian flag during the recent hunger protests.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested several individuals linked to the flag’s production, including one person believed to be manufacturing it.
Akinterinwa attributed the presence of the Russian flag to the porous border between Nigeria and Niger.
According to him, the foreigners were expressing their dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s stance against the military takeover in Niger, a position that has been backed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President Bola Tinubu.
“Those who are carrying the Russian flag, what does it mean to them? I’m not sure they know anything beyond the fact that they are supporting Russia rather than the West,” he told Daily Trust.
According to him, the protesters are essentially Nigeriens who have crossed into Nigeria to signal their support for the military junta in Niger.
“This is a situation where foreigners are using the Nigerian soil to show that Nigeriens support the military government in their country,” Akinterinwa added.
