Poland’s foreign ministry is seeking the release of seven Poles – a group of six students and a lecturer from the University of Warsaw – who were detained amid ongoing protests in Nigeria. It has also denied reports in international media that the group were displaying Russian flags when they were detained.

On Wednesday, outlets including Reuters and the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing the Nigerian authorities, that seven Polish nationals had been detained in the northern state of Kano. The episode happened amid protests by hundreds of thousands of Nigerians over the cost of living.

AP cited a spokesman for the Nigerian security services saying that the group was detained “because of where they were found during the protests and for displaying foreign flags”. Both AP and Reuters claimed that the flags were Russian. Some of the protesters in Nigeria have been seen waving Russian flags.

However, Polish deputy foreign minister Andrzej Szejna told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the Poles “were not carrying any flags, but were taking photos, it seems”.

“Polish consular services are seeking their release; they are in contact with both the Nigerian authorities and the students’ families,” he added.

In a separate statement, Poland’s foreign ministry said that it was “establishing the exact circumstances of the incident with the local authorities in order to support our citizens”. It is also in contact with the families of those who have been detained.

The ministry noted that the group was made up of students and a lecturer. The University of Warsaw issued its own statement confirming that they were from its Faculty of Oriental Studies.

“It has been determined that their going out at night outside their accommodation was considered by the local police to be a violation of local law,” wrote the university, which said it is working alongside the diplomatic service to support the group and secure their release.

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