The Nigerian Police Force announced the arrest of 31 individuals on charges of treason for producing and distributing Russian flags and inciting anarchy. According to Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, 30 arrests were made in Kaduna, and one person was apprehended in Kano for recruiting others to distribute the flags.
Adejobi reported that the total number of individuals arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests had risen to 873, up from 861 over the weekend. He clarified that those arrested were not protesters but “criminal elements, rioters.”
Speaking at a joint press briefing at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters, Adejobi stated, “What we are having in the country right now are protests, demonstrations, and riots. Those arrested are rioters, armed robbers, looters, and criminal elements. Arrest of criminal elements should not be described as arrest of protesters.”
He emphasized that those detained were involved in criminal activities such as vandalism and destruction of public infrastructure. “So we should use the appropriate description for them — they are not protesters,” he added.
Addressing allegations of the police using live bullets against protesters at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Adejobi maintained that security agencies had adhered to rules of engagement, explaining that “using tear gas against protesters when they resort to violence is allowed anywhere in the world.”
He warned against the misuse of words, stressing the need to distinguish between protesters and rioters. “In some states, protesters have been so violent that they attempted to break into government houses and offices,” he said.
Adejobi concluded by highlighting the importance of context in describing events, noting that while some states have seen peaceful protests, others have experienced riots. “Security agencies have been engaging peaceful gatherings, but where individuals wield dangerous weapons, it’s not reasonable to approach or be in the middle of such a gathering,” he noted.
