Six Polish students and a lecturer from Warsaw University have been released in Nigeria following their detention earlier this month during political protests in Kano.
The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed their release, stating that their passports, laptops, and other belongings had been returned.
The group, who were in Nigeria to study the Hausa language, are now staying at their university campus in Kano and are expected to return to Poland this week.
The Polish nationals were detained earlier this month amid widespread protests against economic policies in Nigeria.
Nigerian authorities reported that the students had been carrying Russian flags at the demonstration. However, Polish officials expressed scepticism about these claims, suggesting that the situation might have been a misunderstanding.
The protests were part of a larger series of demonstrations against the economic policies of Nigeria’s new President, Bola Tinubu. Tinubu’s administration, which took office in May 2024, had recently ended government subsidies on petroleum products.
The move, intended to redirect funds to education and healthcare, has been controversial, contributing to a significant rise in inflation and economic hardship for many Nigerians.
The protests, described as “10 days of rage” by activists, were met with a heavy security response.
Amnesty International reported at least 22 fatalities linked to the unrest. The demonstrations, which began in early August, were largely driven by frustrations over economic conditions and high inflation.
The presence of Russian flags at some protests has been noted by Nigerian authorities. This is significant given the recent trend of military governments in neighbouring countries like Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali aligning themselves with Russia.
Such symbols have become common in demonstrations supporting these governments, contrasting sharply with the historically negative sentiment towards Russia in Poland.
Poland, which has had strained relations with Russia due to historical grievances and the recent invasion of Ukraine, views such symbols with suspicion. This context has likely influenced the Polish government’s response to the detention of its citizens in Nigeria.
The Polish government, already wary of Russian influence, says it will continue to monitor any developments closely.
Recall that Nigeria Police Force operatives intensified their crackdown on protesters as demonstrations over the escalating cost of living crisis entered their third day earlier this month.
In the capital, Abuja, police arrested dozens of demonstrators and fired teargas to disperse crowds attempting to march towards government offices.
In Kano state, northern Nigeria, reports indicate that at least one person was shot in the neck and rushed to a hospital. The incident occurred as tensions escalated between protesters and security forces.
