We Won’t Tolerate Flying of Foreign Flags, Defence Chief Warns Protesters 

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the nation’s security chiefs to go after sponsors of individuals flying Russian flags and coup mongers.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, made the disclosure after the nation’s military security apparatchik briefed the President on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests at the State House, Abuja.

Briefing State House Correspondents, Musa said the military would not tolerate flying of foreign flags within the country during the protests. He emphasised that the act is considered treasonable and would be treated as such by the authorities.

“Initially, when the protest started they said it was a peaceful protest but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem.And we can see clearly what has happened since it commenced. Criminals have taken over with a lot of looting, stealing and all sorts of things happening.”

He said the situation became worrisome as foreign flags were flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria and that was totally unacceptable.

“We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey the message that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.

“That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So, nobody should allow himself to be used by any individual,” he said.

He said those flying foreign flags were mainly children who were being pushed to do so.

“We’re following up with those who are sponsoring them. Some people are pushing them because the flags were also made. We have identified those behind it and we are going to take serious action against them.

“The President is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria.”

He said all security agencies were ready to defend democracy and the sovereignty of the nation.

“We will not accept anyone taking any action, for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government.

“Democracy is what we stand for, democracy is what we will continue to defend,” he said.

The CDS said he had earlier stated that the military would step in if the protests got out of hand.

“You can see that some subversive elements are pushing individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria; that is crossing the red line, and we will not accept that.”

President Tinubu had in a national broadcast on Sunday pleaded with organisers of the nationwide protest to suspend the action as it had gone violent in some states with the attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.

He also warned that he would not sit and watch some people used by opposition politicians to truncate democracy in the country.

In response to recent allegations that soldiers participated in looting during the ongoing protests, Musa clarified that the claims were unfounded and based on misconceptions.

“We have investigated thoroughly, and there is nothing to support the idea that any member of the Armed Forces was involved in such activities.”

He emphasised that soldiers were present to restore order and clear areas of unrest, not to engage in criminal behaviour.

“I think it has been cleared, I think it was also a misconception. They actually have seen those things and they wanted to clear them away from that area and that’s what was done. We have investigated thoroughly, the Chief of army Staff is here, we have investigated thoroughly and there is nothing like that; no member of the Armed Forces was involved in doing that, and it’s very clear.”

At the meeting were Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Other security agency heads in attendance were Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.

Also in the meeting were the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai; Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col Adewale Adeniyi; as well as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap.

The Sun