Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a former media aide to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, has explained why some Northerners are displaying Russian flags during the ongoing nationwide protests against hunger and hardship.
This trend emerged as Nigerians took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the economic situation. In some parts of the North, protesters were seen waving Russian flags, which quickly went viral.
Yakasai, writing on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that the protesters are trying to capture the federal government’s attention. He stated, “The average northerner is well informed. They heard stories on BBC Hausa & DW of what happened in Mali, Burkina, & Niger. They want to use the flag to get the attention of FG. My fear is that they may end up getting the attention of external forces who’ll take advantage of it.”
The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from the protesters. In a statement on Monday, it emphasized that the actions of these individuals do not reflect any official Russian government policy or position.
