The Department of State Security (DSS) issued a warning on Thursday, July 25, regarding planned protests across Nigeria starting August 1.
Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS’s Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, stated that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, there are confirmed plans by some elements to infiltrate and incite violence during these protests.
The DSS believes the protests are politically motivated, aiming to smear the government and achieve regime change.
According to the statement, the DSS claimed to have identified the sponsors and collaborators behind the plot but has chosen non-aggressive measures like moral suasion and stakeholder engagement to address the issue.
The Service urges protest groups to avoid chaos and violence and encourages them to engage with the authorities to address their concerns peacefully.
Part of the statement reads:
“The DSS has followed the discourse on planned protests in parts of the country in the coming weeks by persons and groups yet to identify themselves in the public as leaders of the plot. “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 reason behind the protest to be political.
“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. The long term objective is to achieve a regime change especially at the Centre.
“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 action in the instance, in handling the emerging scenario. It has instead, variously applied non kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles, to dissuade the planners from actualising their undesirable objective.
“Based on the foregoing, the Service wishes to warn all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy and spoliation.
“While the different levels of Government have routinely explained their agenda to ameliorate alleged harsh economic conditions, the Service urges the prospective protesters to listen to the voice of reason, good conscience and patiently engage with the authorities, in the interest of peace.
