The family of Ahmad Yusuf Muhammad, one of those accused of producing the Russian flag in Kano, has cried foul, saying he has never handled a sewing machine.
The development comes after tailors who were allegedly involved in the mass production of the Russian flag during the #EndBadGovernance protest in the aforementioned state were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a post on its X handle, the agency said: “Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.”
However, countering the allegation, Ahmad’s brother, Nasiru Yusuf Muhammad, in a chat with Daily Trust, said his sibling has never handled a sewing machine because he is not a tailor.
“He is my biological brother, he was arrested because they said he was the one sewing the Russian flag. I want to clarify that he was never a tailor, he had never been and doesn’t even know how to handle a sewing machine.
“He just became a victim because he was never arrested by any security operative, we (the family) are suspecting because of trauma or being frightened he has said something that implicates himself.
“He is a used water sachet recycling dealer, we are all into it, he directly works under me, that’s our business. He was never a tailor. Even the sewing machine that was said to be his was not his own and was not picked in our house. It was in a neighbour’s house and the owner has since run away.
“The flag was not even in his custody. Ahmad had not participated in the protest and did not raise any flag. We had cautioned him and he listened.”
Nasiru further urged concerned authorities to conduct a proper investigation and release his brother.
“We are appealing to the concerned authorities to please look critically into this issue and release him. He was not a tailor and has not committed the offence he is being held for,” he added.
