The Nigerian government has issued a stern warning against calls for coups and the waving of foreign flags by protesters, following a meeting between security chiefs and President Bola Tinubu on Monday. Defense Chief Christopher Musa addressed the press after the meeting, emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated.
Mr. Musa highlighted concerns over recent incidents in northern states like Kaduna and Kano, where protesters waved Russian flags and called for a coup. “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,” he stated. “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.”
On the matter of calls for a coup, Mr. Musa affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, stating, “Nigeria is a sovereign nation. Nigeria is a democratic nation. All security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to thrive. We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government.”
The ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1 and are set to last 10 days, have seen demonstrators marching through the streets of several cities, chanting “we are hungry” and calling for economic and political reforms. The protests have led to a mix of peaceful demonstrations and violent clashes, resulting in the imposition of 24-hour curfews in five northern states—Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, and Yobe—though some have since relaxed these restrictions. Kaduna recently imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria cities.
The protests were triggered by widespread dissatisfaction with the high cost of living, food shortages, and government mismanagement. Many demonstrators have called on President Tinubu to address systemic corruption and reverse controversial economic reforms passed last year. Despite the president addressing the nation on Sunday, the protesters’ demands remain unmet.
According to Amnesty International, the protests have resulted in about 13 deaths nationwide, although the police have reported only seven fatalities, attributing them to terrorists, a local vigilante, and a reckless driver. Over 600 people have been arrested, and the army has expressed readiness to intervene if the protests become excessively violent.
“We’ve said clearly that the military is going to step in when it is out of hand,” Mr. Musa noted. “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 added that many of those carrying the Russian flags were children, and security agencies are working to identify their sponsors.
“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,” Mr. Musa said. He also pointed out that criminals have exploited the protests to engage in looting and other unlawful activities.
In Abuja, the protests have remained largely peaceful, with demonstrators confined to one location, the Moshood Abiola Stadium. Nonetheless, the State Security Services (SSS) and police have used tear gas and suspected live ammunition to disperse protesters and journalists covering the events.
Monday’s security meeting underscores the government’s concern about the potential escalation of the protests and its intent to take measures, including deploying soldiers, to maintain order and peace.