The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a stern warning against the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship, scheduled to begin in August.
The DSS claims to have identified the sponsors of the protest and cautioned that it is not in Nigeria’s best interest.
It alleged that the ultimate goal of the protest organizers is to instigate a regime change, particularly at the federal level.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS emphasized that it has intelligence indicating that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums to incite chaos and extreme violence.
“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 statement read.
It continued, “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 a regime change especially at the Centre.”
Dr. Afunanya explained that the DSS has identified the funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators behind the planned protest. However, the agency has opted for non-aggressive methods to handle the situation.
“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 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.”
The DSS urged the protest groups to avoid any form of rage or anarchy, stressing the importance of peaceful engagement.
“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.”
The DSS called on various segments of society, including leaders of thought, labour unions, student associations, and civil society organizations, to reject any invitations to participate in orchestrated 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.”
The statement also urged parents, guardians, traditional and academic institutions to advise their wards and students against participating in the protest.
“Similarly, parents, guardians, heads of traditional and academic institutions are respectively urged to advise their children, wards, subjects and students not to take part in the planned protest. Let us all join hands to build a nation without rancour, bitterness or stained banner.”
The DSS assured that it will collaborate with other security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and, if necessary, will employ all legitimate methods to achieve this goal.
“The Service will work with other sister security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace. It will, where necessary, apply all legitimate methods to achieve this,” the DSS concluded.