As Russian embassy denies any involvement in protests, Nigeria’s security chief warns demonstrators that waving the Russian flag constitutes treason and will be treated as such. 

Nine protesters remain in custody after they were arrested on Monday, August 5, for allegedly displaying the Russian flag in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

Yusuf Lawal, the commissioner of police in the state, confirmed the arrests on Tuesday while providing a situation report in the metropolis.

He said the arrests were made in the Zannari Tamsu area of Gwange Ward and in the Bulumkutu area.

A formidable security presence in the capital has kept demonstrators mostly at bay since Thursday, August 1, the start of the nationwide protest against the soaring cost of living.

Dubbed #EndBadGovernance, thousands of protesters across the country took to the streets on Thursday to denounce President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.

The cost-of-living crisis has been fuelled by the surging inflation rate, which hit a 28-year high of 34.19% in June, and government economic policies that have pushed the naira to record lows.

A litre of petrol costs more than three times what it did nine months ago, while the price of the staple food, rice, has more than doubled in the past year.

Protests ebbed on Monday following a crackdown by security forces.

Lawal said the “protest situation” in Maiduguri remained calm.

“Police will continue to monitor and patrol the area to ensure public safety,” he said.

RNI reporter Falmata Mohammed Ali spoke to residents in the capital.

“The heavy security presence reminds me of the peak of the Boko Haram [Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād – JAS] insurgency when security operatives were everywhere,” said one resident, who asked to remain anonymous.

“Police and security officers are all over the city. They are conducting patrols and travelling up and down the streets. There are more police and other security officers on the streets than there are residents.

“People are being cautious because there are rumours circulating that the protest could start again at any moment. Most people are staying away from main roads. Many are not going to work. And parents are keeping their children at home and not allowing them to go to school.”

He said bus operations had been suspended because of fears of attack or vandalism by protesters.

“At Post Office, public buses that transport passengers at the discounted fee of ₦50 are nowhere to be seen. I went to the bus station this morning [Tuesday] because I wanted to go to work. But the buses were not operating and I was left stranded. I turned around and went back home.”

Ali said soldiers were stationed at the entrance of Government House and the Borno State Secretariat.

There was a heavy police presence on the airport road and around the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

She said there was little traffic.

A 24-hour curfew was imposed in the city after public infrastructure was destroyed by protesters on Thursday. People were told to stay off the streets.

On Friday, the government relaxed the curfew for four hours to allow congressional prayers. The curfew was lifted on Saturday, but residents remain cautious about resuming their normal daily activities.

Many businesses are still not operating because shop owners fear being attacked. Many told RNI that they were anxious that their businesses would be vandalised.

Musa Saleh Musa, a shop owner at Maiduguri’s Monday Market, said: “All we can say is Alhamdulillah [praise be to God] because when we got to our shops they were still locked and they were in the same condition as when we left them. Nothing was stolen, no one even tried the doors.

“All the shops at the Monday Market are as we left them. Not even one was vandalised. Most of us are back in our shops going about our normal activities.”

Abubakar, also a shop owner, said: “Yes, as you can see, some of the shop owners are going about their business as normal.

“But some have not returned to the market yet. They did not think the protests would come to an end so soon. Many shop owners are still worried because people are saying the protests could start again at any time.

“The protest was supposed to last for 10 days – so some shop owners have not returned to the market yet. It’s likely that they will stay away until they are sure they will be safe.”

Hussaini Ali, a small-scale business owner in the Hausari Ward of Maiduguri, said: “We aren’t happy with the outcome of the protest because, despite the market being open, we cannot buy what we need to restock our shops.

“When we asked why there is no stock, shop owners at the market told us that there had not been any deliveries from other states. Stocks they normally receive from Kano [the largest commercial city in northern Nigeria] have not arrived because there is a curfew in place.

“Shop owners told us they do not know when they will receive stock. It could be that stock will only come after August 10 when the planned protest is set to end.”

Ali Modu, a trader, said: “The protest has really affected us badly. It has made doing business extremely difficult because we are not able to restock our wares. Nothing is available in the market.

“We are trying to go back to normal but we cannot buy stock. If this persists, there will another crisis soon. We won’t have goods to sell because of the supply shortage.”

In a televised address on Sunday, Tinubu appealed for protests to end. He urged demonstrators “to suspend any further protests and create room for dialogue”.

“I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and the frustration that drive these protests. But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must stop further bloodshed.”

Tinubu blamed organisers for failing to prevent disorder.

He said his government was committed to addressing citizens’ concerns, but he did not say how. He did not indicate that he would reverse his policies, which would include reinstating the fuel subsidy and pegging of the local currency to the dollar.

Tinubu also expressed pain over the loss of lives and the destruction of public facilities.

Twenty-four-hour curfews remain in place in Jigawa, Kano and Yobe after authorities there accused “hoodlums” of violence.

Tinubu said “the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops” was contrary to the promise of protest organisers.

“As a president of this country, I must ensure public order. Our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.”

On Monday, protesters marching in the streets of the northern Kano and Kaduna states were seen waving the Russian flag and calling for President Vladimir Putin to come to their aid.

Nigeria’s national police said nearly 900 protesters were arrested, including 30 who were carrying the Russian flag.

Tinubu held a meeting with security chiefs in the capital, Abuja, on Monday. A curfew was declared in Kaduna state — the sixth state to take such a measure since the protests began — after reports of looting.

Nigeria’s military chief, Christopher Musa, said after meeting with Tinubu that waving the Russian flag constituted treason and would be treated as such.

The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement.

“The government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way,” the embassy said in a statement issued late on Monday.

Amnesty International said at least 13 people had been “killed in clashes” with police since the start of the protests. However, police put the death toll at seven, saying some of the fatalities were caused by accidents and an explosive device.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI