JUST IN; We have identified sponsors of planned nationwide protests says DSS
The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a warning against the upcoming nationwide protests in Nigeria, scheduled from August 1 to 10.
The agency said it has identified the protest’s sponsors and cautioned that it could be exploited by criminal elements, leading to chaos and violence.
In a statement by Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS emphasized that the protest’s underlying motive appears political, aimed at undermining the government and instigating regime change.
The DSS urged citizens to avoid violence and engage peacefully with authorities instead.
The statement partly reads: “The DSS has followed the discourse on planned protests in parts of the country in the coming weeks by persons and groups yet to identify themselves in the public as leaders of the plot.
“While peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the Service has confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land. It has also identified the reason behind the protest to be political.
“The plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the federal and sub-national governments; make them unpopular and pit them against the masses. The long-term objective is to achieve regime change, especially at the centre.
“The Service has also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors and collaborators of the plot.
“However, it does not think that aggression should be the first line of action in the instance, in handling the emerging scenario. It has instead, variously applied non-kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles, to dissuade the planners from actualising their undesirable objective.
“Based on the foregoing, the Service wishes to warn all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy and spoliation.
“While the different levels of government have routinely explained their agenda to ameliorate alleged harsh economic conditions, the Service urges the prospective protesters to listen to the voice of reason, good conscience and patiently engage with the authorities, in the interest of peace.
“This has become important given that violence begets the destruction of lives and property as well as serves as a distraction to governance. “The agitators are encouraged to use ample ways available to them to channel their grievances without resorting to violence.
“The Service calls on people of goodwill, leaders of thought, captains of industry, labour unions, student associations, youth leaders, the civil society, clergy, NGOs, women groups, civil servants and politicians to shun any invitation to participate in any orchestrated violence, deliberately designed to cause disaffection in the country.”
