The Department of State Services (DSS) is requesting that individuals and organizations that have not yet publicly identified themselves as the masterminds of the scheme to organize a national demonstration put their plans on hold.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Peter Afunaya, the Service acknowledges that citizens have the democratic right to peaceful protest. It has confirmed a sinister plot by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the country.
According to the statement, the protest’s motivation has been determined by the service to be political. The plotters hope to defame the federal and subnational governments by using the anticipated violent outcome to make them unpopular and set them against the populace. Their ultimate goal is to overthrow the current regime, particularly at the center.
“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,” the statement read.
As a result, the Service is advising parents, guardians, and heads of traditional and academic institutions to warn their children, wards, subjects, and students not to participate in the planned protest. It claims to have also identified the funding sources, sponsors, and collaborators of the scheme.
“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 this instance in handling the emerging scenario,” the DSS said.
The statement further says the service will work with other sister security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and, where necessary, will apply all legitimate methods to achieve this.
The planned protest, slated for August 1, is to demonstrate against the prevailing economic hardship in the country but government authorities are calling for patience and want the organizers to have faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
