Protesters in Kano who were seen waving Russian flags, or observing others do so, have provided insights into their actions.
A journalist embedded with the protesters and requesting a flag in the Kurna area of Kano was directed to an individual identified as a member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). The journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons, reported that the IMN members initially began waving the Russian flags, which were later adopted by other protesters. Haruna, one of the protesters who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, clarified that he was not affiliated with the IMN. He explained that the flags were brought to the protest site by someone intending to express disdain for the Nigerian government. “I don’t know the individual who brought the flags, but the government needs to address our concerns, especially about reinstating the fuel subsidy. The only flag I would not raise is that of Israel,” Haruna said. Kano, largely Muslim and predominantly Sunni, has strong anti-Israeli sentiments.
Isah Bawa, an IMN member from the Fagge local council area, confirmed the group’s participation in the protest and the use of Russian flags but denied that it was a directive from the organization. “IMN members joined the protest like other Nigerians who are suffering, but there was no formal instruction from our leaders to wave Russian flags,” Bawa stated.
Tea vendor Abdullahi Maishayi was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) on Sunday for displaying a Russian flag at his tea shop in Fagge. He was released after a few hours, claiming he was unaware of who placed the flag there. “We serve all kinds of people at my tea joint. I wasn’t present when the flag was displayed, so I don’t know if the person responsible was a Shiite,” Maishayi explained.
The IMN spokesperson, Abdullahi Musa, did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.
The appearance of Russian flags in the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano became prominent over Sunday and Monday. Demonstrators, taking advantage of a temporary easing of the curfew, continued their protests on IBB Way. Observers noted that while some groups adopted the flags, many claimed no political motive behind their use.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria clarified that the Russian government had no involvement in the display of its flags during the protests. The Nigerian government condemned the flag-waving and calls for a military takeover, labeling these actions as treasonous.
President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the legitimacy of some protesters’ concerns but did not agree to their demands, including the reintroduction of petrol subsidies or cuts to public officials’ salaries and allowances.
Following the violent clashes and looting, the #EndBadGovernance protesters have withdrawn from the streets. The Kano State government has eased the 24-hour curfew imposed on Friday, limiting restrictions to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as normalcy gradually returns to the state.
