FG releases Polish nationals arrested over ‘waving of Russian flags’ during protest

The seven Polish nationals who were arrested over alleged waving of Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protest in Kano have been released.

The Polish nationals were apprehended by the Department of State Services (DSS) on August 5.

The secret police also arrested some tailors seemingly sewing Russian flags for #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Andrzej Szejna, Poland’s deputy foreign minister, said the nationals are six students and their lecturer, who came to Nigeria from the University of Warsaw for an African studies exchange programme at the Bayero University in Kano.

Szejna said it was unlikely that Poles would raise Russian flags in Nigeria.

In an update published via X on Wednesday, the Polish ministry of foreign affairs announced that the arrested nationals have been released.

“The Polish students have been released and are in Kano. Thank you to everyone involved in the release of the Polish citizens!” the post reads.

🇵🇱 Polscy studenci zostali uwolnieni i przebywają w Kano.

Minister @sikorskiradek rozmawiał dziś z przedstawicielem rodziców, panem Jackiem Półrolniczakiem, i podziękował za dobrą współpracę rodzin studentów z MSZ.

Dziękujemy wszystkim zaangażowanym w uwolnienie 🇵🇱 obywateli! pic.twitter.com/ulUYpg19kl

— Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP 🇵🇱 (@MSZ_RP) August 28, 2024

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BACKGROUND

On August 1, a 10-day protest against the rising cost of living commenced across the country.

The protest was largely peaceful in southern Nigeria but was marred by violence and destruction of public and private facilities in northern Nigeria.

Some protesters were seen waving Russian flags in the north, while calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene.