By Hadiza Suleman
There are plans by some elements to infiltrate the planned August 1-10 nationwide protest against economic hardship to cause chaos and violence in the country, the Department of State Services (DSS) said.
Dr Peter Afunanya, the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communication of DSS, in a statement, warned against using the planned protests to cause mayhem in the country.
According to him, “While peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the service has confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest. The idea is to use the protest to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land.”
Afunanya said the secret police had identified that political reasons were behind the protest, adding that, “The plotters desire is 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.”
He said the service had also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors and collaborators of the plot. He faulted the planned use of aggression as the first line action in handling the emerging scenario.
He however urged the application of non-kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles, which he said are strategies to be used to dissuade the planners from actualising their undesirable objective.
Quoting him, “Based on the foregoing, the service wishes to warn all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy and spoliation. Government at different levels have routinely explained their agenda to ameliorate alleged harsh economic conditions.
“The service is calling on prospective protesters to listen to the voice of reason, good conscience and patiently engage with the authorities, in the interest of peace,” he said, adding that the call had become important given that violence begets destruction of lives and property, as well as serve as a distraction to governance.
Afunanya urged the agitators to use ample ways available to them to channel their grievances without resorting to violence.
He enjoined people of goodwill, leaders of thought, captains of industry, labour unions, student associations and others to shun any invitation to participate in in the planned protest.
Afunanya 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.
He said the service would work with other sister security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace. According to him, where necessary, the service will apply all legitimate methods to achieve and maintain peace in the country.
He said the service could be reached on its website, dss.gov.ng; email address – dsspr@dss.gov.ng and telephone on +2349153391309; +2349088373514.
