Protest: DSS Asks Plotters To Botch Idea
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Department of State Services, DSS, says it has confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the peaceful protest planned in parts of the country in the coming weeks and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land.
DSS, also said has identified the reason behind the protest to be political as 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.
This disclosure was contained in a statement signed by the Director PR and Stratcoms Department of State Services, National Headquarters Abuja, Dr. Peter Afunanya and made available to to journalists.
It revealed that the Service has also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors and collaborators of the plot adding that though peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, aggression should not be the first line of action in handling the emerging scenario hence it has variously applied non kinetic and conflict resolution strategies.
The Service warned all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy and spoliation and listen to the voice of reason, good conscience and patiently engage with the authorities, in the interest of peace.
The statement noted that it has become important given that violence begets destruction of lives and property as well as serve as a distraction to governance and encouraged agitators to use ample ways available to them to channel their grievances without resorting to violence
It called 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, similarly, urged parents, guardians, heads of traditional and academic institutions to advise their children, wards, subjects and students not to take part in the planned protest.
The Service promised to work with other sister security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and will, where necessary, apply all legitimate methods to achieve this.
It reminded members of the public who may wish to contact the Service that the website, dss.gov.ng; email address – dsspr@dss.gov.ng and Telephone lines +2349153391309; +2349088373514 will remain available to them
