Police say the prime suspect was arrested with seven more Russian flags

Olayomi Koiki

The Nigeria Police Force said Monday that one Ahmed Tailor, accused of sponsoring and distributing Russian flags to protesters in Kano State, has been arrested.

The national police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Tailor was apprehended with seven Russian flags in his possession. 

Adejobi stated that Tailor is a key suspect in the promotion of treasonous activities, including the display of Russian flags and calls for anarchy in Kano and across Nigeria.

“Ahmed Tailor arrested in Kano today with seven more flags. He is one of the sponsors of treasonable felony, flying Russian flags and calling for anarchy in Kano, Nigeria at large,” Adejobi said. 

The #EndBadGovernance protests in northern Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, and other areas, have taken a surprising turn with protesters waving Russian flags. These individuals have expressed discontent with the Nigerian government’s adoption of IMF policies and the Western-style democracy, leading them to seek support from Russia and advocate for an alternative system.

Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with skyrocketing inflation, a national currency in free-fall and millions of people struggling to buy food. Only two years ago Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria is projected to drop to fourth place this year.

The pain is widespread. Unions strike to protest salaries of around $20 a month. People die in stampedes, desperate for free sacks of rice. Hospitals are overrun with women wracked by spasms from calcium deficiencies.

Although President Bola Tinubu increased the minimum wage — after strike action and months-long negotiations with labour unions — from N30,000 to N70,000, his government has increased spending for officials at a time of nationwide starvation.

For workers earning the new N70,000, or $43, per month minimum wage, capricious inflation and naira value have inflicted too much damage for the changes to make any difference in their lives.

The crisis is largely believed to be rooted in two major changes implemented by Mr Tinubu, elected 14 months ago: the partial removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the currency, which together have caused major price rises.

A nation of entrepreneurs, Nigeria’s more than 200 million citizens are skilled at managing in tough circumstances, without the services states usually provide. They generate their own electricity and source their own water. They take up arms and defend their communities when the armed forces cannot. They negotiate with armed kidnappers when family members are abducted.

But right now, their resourcefulness is being stretched to the limit.

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