DSS identifies sponsors, warns against planned nationwide protest in Nigeria ─Official

*Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) discloses it has identified the rationale behind the planned protest to be political, stating the ‘plotters’ desire to use the intended violent outcome of the action to smear the Federal and sub-national governments towards a long-term objective of achieving a regime change in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Stating there is a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the planned protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS) has urged persons and groups yet to identify themselves in the public as leaders of the plot to stage a nationwide protest to shelve their plans and eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy, and spoliation.

Peter Afunaya, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, in a statement, said the DSS acknowledged though a peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the Service had confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land.

ConsumerConnect reports the planned protest, which is slated to begin August 1, 2024, is reportedly being organised to demonstrate against the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

Afunaya also noted that the Service 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 with a long-term objective of achieving a regime change, especially at the centre.

He stated: “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 funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators of the plot, and is therefore, asking parents, guardians, and heads of traditional and academic institutions to advise their children, wards, subjects, and students not to take part in the planned protest, said the DSS.

It further stated that “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.”

The Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, however, assured the Service would work with other security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and where necessary, would apply all legitimate methods to achieve this.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government and other authorities have urged for patience on the part of organisers, and to have faith in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the current economic challenges in Nigeria.