The ongoing protests have taken a new twist as protesters have been spotted flying flags of foreign countries and calling for external intervention in Nigeria.
It began on Friday in Kano when some protesters brought in Russian flags though no inscription in the motive was found. None of the protesters also gave a hint as to why they brought Russian flags into the protest ground.
But on Saturday, some states in the North such as Plateau also brought in Russian and Japanese flags with the inscription, “We are Nigerians, Russia we need your help.”
The flags were also sighted in states like Katsina, Borno and Zamfara according to reports.
It’s not clear how the protesters want Russia or Japan to intervene but Russia has its mercenaries in some African countries which are under military rule.
Niger Republic which borders Nigeria to the north is under military rule and the Russian military mercenaries are taking the place of the US and French military to fight insurgents after Niamey sent them packing.
Also they are fighting alongside Burkina Faso and Mali security forces against insurgents.
Nigeria’s latest crisis borders on economic hardship and not the fight against Boko Haram terrorists which has been going on for over 10 years.
Protesters took to the streets on Thursday to protest against hardship and hunger.
However, there are reports that the flying of foreign flags and the hint from the bearers of the flags are that they want a “regime change,” a fear supporters of the Nigerian government have been nursing since the outset of the protest.
Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani is of the opinion that, “Someone hiding somewhere must have shared the Russian flags to the Kano protesters to raise, perhaps without them knowing what it is or it’s meant.”