The Department of State Services (DSS) is urging unnamed individuals and groups planning a nationwide protest to abandon their plans and avoid any form of chaos or anarchy.
Why It Matters.
As Nigerians gear up for a major protest in August, the government is essentially pleading with citizens to continue enduring hardship. It’s almost like they’re asking us to suffer quietly. We can’t wait to see how this protest unfolds. Will it turn violent? Will it be hijacked by troublemakers? The suspense is high.
Peter Afunaya, the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, issued a statement acknowledging that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, the DSS has uncovered a plot by certain elements to infiltrate the protest and incite extreme violence.
What They Are saying
The DSS claims that the real motive behind the protest is political. The plotters allegedly aim to use the expected violence to tarnish the reputation of the federal and state governments, ultimately seeking to force a regime change.
The DSS also says it has traced the funding and identified the sponsors behind this plot. They are urging parents, guardians, and leaders of traditional and academic institutions to advise their wards and students to stay away from the protest.
“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 DSS stated.
Bottom Line
The DSS assures that it will collaborate with other security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace, and if necessary, will use all legitimate methods to ensure stability.
