A coalition of Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of Nigerian Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Council Worldwide, on Monday, called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against individuals responsible for displaying Russian flags during the recent EndBadGovernance protests.
According to The PUNCH, following a National Emergency Council meeting, the coalition released a statement denouncing the sponsors of the Russian flags as ‘coupists’ and urged that they be prosecuted.
They acknowledged the security agencies for apprehending some individuals found with the flags but stressed that the primary culprits remain unidentified.
The coalition condemned the escalation of criminal activities during the protests, such as looting and vandalism of both private and national assets.
They also expressed appreciation to Nigerian youths for responding to their call to avoid participation in the protests.
Representatives from various ethnic nationality youth councils signed the statement, including Terry Obeih, President General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council, and Oladotun Hassan Esq, President of the Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide.
The group urged the government to ensure that those responsible for the treasonable acts are apprehended and prosecuted, warning that a failure to do so would only embolden them to continue their subversive activities.
“It is our clear observation that even though the protest was still held in some locations across the country, it could have been worse off. But the majority of the youths gave heed to the voice of reason and stayed away.
“We also condemn the introduction of criminality into the protest, which manifested in the area of looting and destruction of some private and national assets. This is the same reason we had called for the abortion of the protest,” the group stated.
They added that “more worrisome is the display of Russian flags in some locations during the protest. This is nothing but an action orchestrated by coupists, people who don’t mean well for the country.
“Even though the security agencies arrested some of those bearing the flags, the truth is that they are not the real culprits, rather they are just victims of circumstance.
“However, those arrested should assist the security agencies in exposing those behind the treasonable act.
“Once they are exposed, the government should ensure that they are arrested, prosecuted and brought to book.”
