Seven Polish nationals have been placed under custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly flying the Russian flag during demonstrations in Kano State.
They were being questioned, according to Dr. Peter Afunanya, a spokesman for the secret police.
The Federal Government issued a warning yesterday as well over foreign meddling in the cost of living demonstrations going on in several regions of the nation.
It said “appropriate action” would be meted out to any “foreign entity residing in Nigeria” that directly or indirectly played a role in the demonstrations.
The administration declared that it has opened an inquiry into the violence that followed the protests, which started one week ago.
Six Spaniards were reportedly arrested by the police on Tuesday for their apparent involvement in the protests.
Security services are currently detaining a large number of protesters who were detained in the states of Kano and Kaduna for flying the Russian flag during the demonstrations.
Afunanya said: “For the persons we have picked up from Kano because of where they were found during the protest and display of the foreign flag, that was two days ago.
“As a responsible security organisation, we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.
“They were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened.
“It is not a targeted operation on behalf of the DSS and Nigeria.
“But we have a plea, in the cause of the discharge of our duty we will also see that some Nigerians definitely would want to use foreign lands as a launch pad to attack domestic peace and stability.
“We plead that you do not offer your country to some person who may be deviant or have a terrorist inclination.
“Nigeria is a country with a large population and I believe that the support other countries will give will help us.”
He gave his word that Polish nationals were not the object of the arrests.
Afunanya issued a warning, saying that anyone found to have funded the protests would not be spared by the government.
He asked Nigerians to respect the Federal Government with some patience, earlier, the DSS had promised to identify the sponsors of demonstrators flying foreign flags in order to incite rebellion.
Foreign affairs minister, Yusuf Tuggar, also spoke at the diplomatic corps briefing, emphasising the importance of the “cordial relationships it has with many foreign nations” and adding that Nigeria will not stand by and allow foreign entities to intervene in its domestic issues.
He said: “The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
“Nigeria cherishes and continues to value the cordial relationships that happily subsist between her and your individual countries and organisations and will not do anything to undermine or take for granted such relationships.
‘’Indeed, more than any time before now, we solicit your understanding and collaboration in the ongoing efforts of the Federal government in addressing the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerian at home and abroad.”
The minister informed the diplomatic corps that President Tinubu is making every effort to address the “pains and frustration driving the protests.”
Twelve alleged vandals were detained in Abuja during the protests, according to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Command of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Four suspects were apprehended at Jabi for attempting to vandalise street lights, while three individuals were apprehended at Moshood Abiola Stadium while attempting to vandalise some infrastructure after scaling the facility’s fence.
On top of the recently opened Wuye Bridge, a scavenger by the name of Baban-bola was apprehended for trying to damage the infrastructure.
According to the state Police Command, the total number of suspects in custody has increased to 294 after 82 more were apprehended for stealing and damaging public property.
303 bags of fertiliser, 50 motorcycles, 3 tricycles, 12 bicycles, 9 chairs, 54 cartons of mosquito nets, 2 bags of rice, and office furniture were also named by the command as items that some of the suspects had stolen.
Four television sets, three desktop computers, food, a water pump, 34 sachets of agrochemicals, and solar panels were among the other goods found.
