Polish authorities are negotiating the release of seven citizens detained by Nigeria’s Secret Service, SSS, for allegedly hoisting Russian flags during nationwide demonstrations against hunger and a regressive economy on Monday.

Six students and a lecturer from the Faculty of Oriental Studies in University of Warsaw  who visited Nigeria for a study trip were arrested on Monday in Kano for allegedly carrying Russian flags as demonstrators took to the streets to bewail the cost-of-living crisis incurred by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.  

The alleged display of foreign flags did not bode well for the Poles who were detained by the SSS who thought them to be spies. 

But Polish authorities have denied the allegation of espionage, saying that their citizens were only taking pictures during the protest.

The arrested Poles, according to Polish deputy foreign minister Andrzej Szejna, “were not carrying any flags, but were taking photos, it seems.”

“Polish consular services are seeking their release; they are in contact with both the Nigerian authorities and the students’ families,” the Polish Press Agency (PAP) cited Mr Szejna as saying.

Kano governor Abba Yusuf had last week imposed a curfew to dissuade protesters from storming the streets after government property and infrastructure were vandalised in the early days of the demonstrators which began August 1. 

University of Warsaw in a statement said that it determined that their (the Poles) going out at night outside their accommodation was considered by the local police to be a violation of local law.” 

SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya justified the arrest of the foreigners to diplomats hosted to a meeting by the Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs which held in Abuja on Wednesday, saying “because of where they were found during the protests and for displaying foreign flags.” 

Hoisting the Russian flag had become a trend synonymous with some African nations seized by coups but the Nigerian government was nor taking any chances as secret agents had begun arresting persons seen with the flag during the #EndHunger protests.