ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has tracked at least N83 billion in both cryptocurrency and fiat money connected to the recent nationwide protests, according to a report by Punch. This includes $50 million in cryptocurrency, with $38 million of that amount blocked across four different wallets, as well as N4 billion contributed by various political actors in key states such as Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina.
This revelation was part of a presentation by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu during the inaugural meeting of the Council of State, which was convened by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. Ribadu’s presentation, titled “The Nationwide Protest As It Affects National Security,” also disclosed that a European national has been identified as the mastermind behind the proliferation of foreign flags during the protests. The individual is expected to be declared wanted by the Police soon.
According to sources present at the meeting, several local collaborators from Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano have already been arrested in connection with the protests. Ribadu’s presentation highlighted the government’s success in identifying and blocking the crypto wallets used to fund the protests. He further revealed that some political actors had contributed N4 billion to support the demonstrations.
The Council of State meeting, which brought together high-ranking officials, including former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, focused on multiple issues such as national security, the economy, and food security. The meeting came just days after a one-million-man march in Abuja, which marked the tenth day of protests against the rising cost of living in the country. The demonstrations, which initially began on August 1, escalated into violence, leading to the loss of at least 17 lives, particularly in the northern regions.
During the meeting, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, emphasized that no political actor would be allowed to instigate an unconstitutional regime change, describing the protests as an attempt at regime change. He reiterated the government’s stance that any change in leadership must occur through democratic elections rather than insurrection or unconstitutional means. The Council of State also received updates from various ministers on critical issues, including the state of the economy, food security, and national security.
