By SAIDU KANKIYA
Despite the partial curfew imposed in parts of Kano State, the #EndBadGovernance protests are continuing.
Nicknamed Zanga-Zanga by the locals, the protesters have persistent in carrying flags of the Russian Federation.
State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf had imposed a dawn to dust curfew last Friday following the violence that attended the demonstration on 1st August. Hundres of shops and soome private and public buildings were looted while some properties were burnt.
Over 200 people were arrested following the crisis and are being arraigned for various offences.
On Monday, over 300 protesters took to the streets, especially Zaria road and Gyadi-gyadi area of Kano, carrying the Russian flags and chanting anti-government songs.
Like is the case in several other states, the protesters in Kano were not being escorted by police officers.
Reacting to the development in Kano, General Chris Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, labelled the action of such protesters as treasonable. He did not disclose what steps would be taken by security officials on the issue.
The rampant use of Russian flags during the protests in Kano have become worrisome and have been interpreted In various ways by security analysts as portended grave consequences to the nation.
It led to a response by the Press Secretary to the Russian Embassy in Nigeria, Yuri Paramokov who denied that his country was involved in any way with the protests.
The flags are suspected to have found their way into Nigeria through the neighboring countries of Niger, Burkina Fasso and Mali, three Sahel nations that have security understanding with the Russian Federation. Three ofbthem have also pulled out from ECOWAS, the regional block led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.
There are no reports as at press time, of any arrest regarding the flaunting of Russian flags.
