The Polish government has reacted to the claim that seven of its nationals were involved in flying Russian flags in Kano, a city in Northwestern Nigeria….READ FULL ARTICLE...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Andrzej Szejna, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, clarified in an interview with RMF FM, a private radio station, that the group—comprising six students and a teacher—were simply caught in an unfortunate situation.
These Polish citizens were detained by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday, with authorities alleging their involvement in protests against the government’s economic policies.
However, the Polish Foreign Ministry maintained that the group consisted of students and a teacher on an educational trip, not participants in the demonstrations.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is currently grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
The reforms, aimed at boosting the economy and attracting foreign investment, have sparked widespread protests across the country.
The unrest has resulted in several deaths, with Amnesty International reporting 21 fatalities, while security forces claim seven people have died.
Security agencies have arrested numerous individuals for waving Russian flags during the protests, reminiscent of recent demonstrations in Niger and Burkina Faso, where coups have led to closer ties with Moscow.
The DSS, which is responsible for handling national security threats, accused the Polish nationals of playing a “suspicious role” in the protests and flying Russian flags, though they provided no further details on their activities.
Andrzej Szejna reiterated that the students and their teacher were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Warsaw University also issued a statement assuring that the Chancellor of Bayero University in Kano had confirmed the safety of the students, who have since been relocated to Abuja.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with consular services and other relevant institutions, is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the students’ families.
President Tinubu has addressed the nation, urging patience with the ongoing reforms, which the government argues will yield long-term economic benefits. Meanwhile, the military has suggested that the protests may have been co-opted by external forces seeking to destabilize the government.
The protest movement, known as #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, gained significant traction online, calling for reductions in fuel prices and other measures to alleviate the economic crisis….READ FULL ARTICLE
