Seven Polish Citizens Arrested in Nigeria for Waving Russian Flags During Protests

Nigeria's authorities have arrested seven Polish citizens for waving Russian flags during anti-government protests this week in the northern Kano state, according to Reuters, which reported on Wednesday that the country's national security spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, disclosed the information.

A representative from the country's security service stated that the banners were sewn by a local tailor. Afunanya mentioned that the Polish nationals were detained as part of security measures from the Department of State Services. He did not provide details about their identities but emphasized that the actions were not directed against Polish citizens.

Stanislav Gulinjski, the Consul of Poland in Nigeria, confirmed the arrest during a meeting with diplomats and Nigeria's Foreign Minister in the capital, Abuja. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Nigeria has denied any connection to the incident.

Since August 1, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been staging protests against President Bola Tinubu's painful economic reforms, which have led to a partial withdrawal of subsidies on petrol and electricity, the devaluation of the national currency, and soaring inflation rates.

During this week's protests in the northern states, some demonstrators waved Russian flags, highlighting concerns about the rising Russian influence in West Africa.