Nigeria cracks down on pro-Russia protests: summary

What we know

• Nigerian authorities are intensifying efforts to suppress anti-government protests that have taken an unusual turn with demonstrators in the country's northern cities waving Russian flags and chanting pro-Putin slogans. 
• The protests, which began on August 1 in response to rising living costs and perceived government mismanagement, have spread from the commercial hub of Lagos to several northern cities. 
• However, security forces have only recently addressed the growing pro-Russia sentiment among some protesters in the north. 
• This week, police reported the arrest of tailors in Kano for producing Russian flags. 
• Both the Nigeria Police Force and the nation's defence chief emphasised that displaying foreign flags during protests and advocating for a military coup are capital offences under Nigerian law.

What they said

When asked about the reason for wielding Russian flags during the protest, some locals remarked “We have the conviction that if Putin intervenes we will have our demands met so that citizens will enjoy having food to eat. Nobody gave us any flags, we sourced the flags by ourselves,” a local is quoted by Semafor Africa. Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has refuted any form of involvement with the pro-Russian groups. In a statement, the embassy stated emphatically, “These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government on the issue.” Adding that “As always, we emphasise that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria.”