Protest: Police warn against display of foreign flags, calls for military coup
By Kunle Sanni
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning against the display of foreign flags and calls for a military coup during protests, labeling such actions as treasonable felonies under Nigerian law.
This warning comes in the wake of recent violent protests in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina States, where demonstrators were seen brandishing foreign flags.
In a statement released on Tuesday via X, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, conveyed the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s serious concern over these activities.
Egbetokun emphasized, “The use of foreign flags during protests and openly calling for a military takeover of the government is a capital offense under Nigerian law.”
Adejobi added, “The display of foreign flags and calls for a military takeover constitutes a clear treasonable offense, revealing the motives of protest organizers to destabilize Nigeria’s democratic government.”
In response to the current situation, Egbetokun has deployed Deputy Inspectors General of Police, DIGs Bala Ciroma and Bello Makwashi, to monitor operations in the affected Northwest and Northeast zones.
The police also urged Nigerian youths to be wary of individuals and groups who transform rallies into business endeavors, backed by local or foreign sponsors seeking to disrupt the country.
While noting that tensions have subsided since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address on August 4, the police cautioned that some groups continue to engage in subversive tactics, such as violent and illegal protests.
“Some groups persist in subversive campaigns in the form of violent and unlawful protests, characterized by the destruction of public infrastructure and private property, looting, display of foreign flags, and calls for a military takeover. These individuals and groups will be treated as subversive agents and charged accordingly,” the statement read.
