The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced the arrest and questioning of seven Polish nationals who were found displaying foreign national flag in Kano during the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
A few days ago, media reports and footage showed some #EndBadGovernance protesters carrying Russian flags.
The spokesman for the DSS, Mr Peter Afunanya, disclosed the arrest when the minister of foreign affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, held a meeting with members of the diplomatic corps in Abuja on Wednesday.
Afunanya said the foreign nationals were picked up for displaying foreign flags in the northwest region.
He said those arrested were being investigated and assured that their arrest was not a targeted attempt on Polish nationals.
“Seven persons were picked up from Kano because of where they were found during the protest and display of foreign flag in Kano two days ago.
“As a responsible security organisation, we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.
“They were picked by security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened. It is not a targeted operation,” he said.
He also issued a plea for international cooperation in maintaining global stability, urging other nations not to allow their citizens to be used as instruments for undermining domestic peace in any country.
“As the foremost domestic security organisation, we believe we have to work in sync with all of you who are men and county of goodwill.
“Our operations must be governed by democratic principles and protocol that emphasises freedom and human rights and of course intelligence and security governance. We obey all of these, whether we are dealing with Nigerians or foreigners.
“But we have a plea. In the course of discharging of our duty, we also see that some Nigerians definitely would want to use foreign lands as a launch pad to attack domestic peace and stability.
“We plead that you do not offer your country to some persons who may be deviant or have a terrorist inclination in today’s global pursuit; if anything happens in a country, it affects the others. Nigeria is a country with a large population and I believe that the support other countries will give will help us.”
Also speaking, Tuggar, appealed for continued collaboration from the international community to support Nigeria’s efforts in overcoming its current challenges and achieving a better future for all Nigerians.
“While the government continues to work hard through the various reform programmes and measures to address challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs and that of its citizens. Nigeria is not an exception.
“The government will take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
“Nigeria cherishes and continues to value the cordial relationships that happily subsist between her and your countries and organisations and will not do anything to undermine or take for granted such relationships.
“Indeed, more than any time before now, we solicit your understanding and collaboration in the ongoing efforts of the Federal Government in addressing the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerians at home and abroad,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Economic Community of West African States have called for dialogue to address the tension from the hunger protests.
Speaking at the briefing the British High Commissioner, Mr Richard Montgomery, and his US counterpart, Mr Richard Mills, stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue and peace-building efforts to address the issues raised by the protesters.
Montgomery commended the security agencies for their restraint in managing the protests, highlighting their avoidance of lethal force.
“I commend the synergy and policing agencies for avoiding lethal force. This is a big and complex situation, and we have noted very clearly the commitment to enabling a peaceful process and the commitment to policing proportionately.
“And I just wanted to put on record our appreciation of some of the handlings. We have a lot of empathy for people facing significant hardship. The level of inflation is significant, and I would endorse my colleagues’ question and interest in the dialogue and the peace-building that needs to continue in Nigeria given the hardship that people face.
“But I also want to put on record that we fully support the big and important economic reforms that are going on in Nigeria at the moment, which we see as essential for the future prosperity of the country, and indeed the economic relationships of many of us here with this major power,” he said.
In his remarks, Mills expressed condolences for the losses caused by the recent events.
He reiterated the US support for the necessary reforms undertaken by the federal government.
“I want to take this platform just to express my embassy’s condolences for the loss of life and suffering that Nigeria has seen over the past several days.
“And let me echo my British colleague’s comments that we understand the difficulty that the reforms President Tinubu and his administration have undertaken have imposed.
“We know that these reforms are necessary, and we have supported and worked with the administration as they have carried them out,” Mills stated.
