Nigeria arrests foreign nationals amid anti-government protests
Abuja will not accept foreign interference in its internal affairs, says minister
Nigerian police officers and military members intervene with tear gas canisters as hundreds of Nigerian citizens holding Nigerian flags, banners and placards gather to march through the streets during a demonstration over high cost of living and removal of fuel subsidies in Abuja, Nigeria on August 01, 2024.
LAGOS, Nigeria
Nigeria confirmed Wednesday it arrested seven foreign nationals earlier this week for allegedly raising the flags of another country during anti-government protests.
The foreigners were arrested along with protesters in northwest Kano State, said Peter Afunaya, spokesperson for the Department of State Service (DSS).
"They were arrested two days ago in Kano," Afunaya said at a meeting at the Foreign Ministry with foreign diplomats in the national capital of Abuja.
He did not, however, provide details about the suspects but said they were Polish.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar warned against external interference in Nigeria's internal affairs.
"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," he told foreign diplomats.
Nigeria saw protests last week as demonstrators demanded good governance and a solution to economic hardship and the high cost of living.
The #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests, which started in August snowballed into violence with some protesters waving foreign flags and demanding a change of government.
Authorities confirmed 17 deaths in the protests.
Many arrests have been made.
