By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Polish government has urged Nigerian authorities to release seven Poles arrested in the northern region of Kano in connection with raising the Russian flag during the recent anti-government protest in the West African nation.
Deputy foreign minister Jakub Wisniewski met with Nigeria´s charge d´affaires in Warsaw on Friday where he made a case for the release of the arrested persons – a lecturer and six students.
They had come from Warsaw University to take part in a Hausa language programme.
“During the meeting, I conveyed that I was convinced that the students´ behavior could have resulted from their ignorance of local customs, culture and laws.
“I appealed for the possibility of their return to Poland, to their homes, where their families are waiting for them,” Wisniewski said.
Wisniewski however did not admit that the arrested persons carried Russian flags. He said the seven Poles taken to Abuja, the nation’s capital are safe.
Heritage Times HT reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) announced the arrest of the Poles on Wednesday and said they were undergoing interrogation.
The Federal Government warned against foreign interference in the protests, saying “appropriate action” would be meted out to any “foreign entity residing in Nigeria” that directly or indirectly played a role in the demonstrations.
Six Spaniards were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the protests.
Spokesman for the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr. Peter Afunanya, said of the arrested Poles and others: “For the persons we have picked up from Kano because of where they were found during the protest and display of the foreign flag, that was two days ago.
“As a responsible security organisation, we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.
“They were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened.
“It is not a targeted operation on behalf of the DSS and Nigeria”.
Also speaking during a diplomatic corps briefing, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stressed the value the government placed on the “cordial relationships it has with many foreign nations,” but said Nigeria would not fold its hands and watch foreign entities meddle in its internal affairs.
