Six Polish Students Detained During #EndBadGovernance Protests Released

Six Polish students and their teacher, who were arrested earlier this month in Nigeria during protests against government policies and rising living costs, have been released, according to Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski.

The group, which included students from the University of Warsaw, was detained in Kano, a state in northwestern Nigeria, by the national security agency. The students were reportedly arrested due to their “suspicious role in the protest and the waving of Russian flags,” the agency stated.

Polish officials clarified that the group was not involved in any unlawful activities, asserting that they were simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” The students had been in Nigeria as part of an educational trip.

Minister Sikorski confirmed the group’s release on Wednesday, stating in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “The young people are already free, back in Kano, on campus, with passports.” He added, “I think the young people received an accelerated lesson in African studies… I hope they will be back in the country soon.”

The arrests occurred amid widespread protests in Nigeria, driven by public dissatisfaction with recent economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These measures, aimed at reviving the struggling economy and attracting foreign investment, have led to a significant cost-of-living crisis in the country.