AGS NEWS – The hunger protests that erupted across Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, have significantly diminished following police crackdowns on organizers and demonstrators, leading to numerous arrests.

Some leaders of the #EndBadGovernance protests have gone into hiding and turned off their phones as the Department of State Services (DSS) detained seven Polish nationals in Kano for waving Russian flags during the demonstrations.

DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya confirmed the arrests, stating it was routine security enforcement, not a targeted action against the Poles.

The protests, initially widespread in cities like Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Abuja, and other northern towns, saw escalating violence, often spurred by security forces’ actions or overzealous protesters.

President Bola Tinubu, in a national address, urged protest organizers to halt the demonstrations due to the violence, loss of life, and property damage.

Despite planned protests from August 1 to 10, the movement has lost momentum, with no significant demonstrations in major cities on Wednesday.

Police have arrested 873 protesters and detained 30 others for waving Russian flags in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Bauchi. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Christopher Musa labeled the flag-wavers’ actions as treasonous, promising prosecution.

The DSS is also investigating four political figures from Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano for allegedly encouraging the use of Russian flags to incite an unconstitutional regime change.

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The Polish nationals’ detention was explained as a standard procedure for verification, not a targeted operation.

The UK, US, and ECOWAS have called for dialogue to address the protests’ underlying issues.

Both British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery and US Ambassador Richard Mills emphasized the need for peaceful resolution and praised Nigeria’s economic reforms, despite the hardships they impose.

ECOWAS condemned the violence and expressed condolences for the lives lost and property destroyed. They urged protesters to engage in inclusive dialogue as President Tinubu had suggested.

As protests waned, curfews in some northern states were partially lifted. In Borno State, tension has eased, with a heavy security presence remaining in strategic locations.

In Kaduna, however, the curfew continues following the shooting of a boy, raising concerns of further unrest.

The protests’ decline is attributed to the government’s clampdown on activists, with security measures suppressing free speech and demonstrations.