Security sources have revealed that members of the Shiite sect, particularly from the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, have joined and influenced the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in northern Nigerian cities such as Kano, Abuja, and Jos.
These members are seen waving Russian flags during the demonstrations.
The Shiite sect, a minority group primarily based in northern Nigeria, with significant presence in Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna, is suspected to receive support from countries with predominant Shia populations like Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain.
In Kano, underage youths recently took to the streets, some calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Nigeria and advocating for a military coup. Despite a 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government, these protests continued, with demonstrators holding placards supporting a Russian military takeover.
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Similar incidents occurred in Abuja and Jos, where protests persisted despite governmental efforts to quell them. The involvement of the Shiite sect has added a complex layer to the political unrest.
A source from the Government House in Jos indicated that the state government was aware of the infiltration by sponsored groups.
Before the imposition of the curfew in Jos-Bukuru, Governor Caleb Mutfwang had warned community leaders about these infiltrations.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Garba, suggested a political dimension to the protests, noting that some participating youths were involved in a programme backed by an unidentified politician.
Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a respected elder statesman from Kano, expressed concerns over the calls for a military takeover, labeling the instigators as anarchists aiming to destabilize the country.
“Before Gov. Caleb Mutfwang imposed a 24-hour curfew on Jos-Bukuru metropolis on Sunday, he warned community leaders that some sponsored groups had hijacked the protest.
“There are people who don’t like this country and are prepared to take advantage of anybody willing to serve as their agent to destroy the country or drag the country into a mess only to please themselves. These are anarchists. Is there anywhere in the world where anarchists made their country better?”, Yakasai said.
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