The Department of State Services (DSS) has uncovered plans by some elements to infiltrate the planned protest by some Nigerians to cause chaos in the country.
The Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communication of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
A group of Nigerians had planned a nationwide protest tagged: “EndBadGovernance” from August 1 to 10 to drive home their grievances over alleged corruption, insecurity, and other problems in the country.
Afunanya said: “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.
“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.”
He said the service had also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators of the plot.
The spokesman faulted the planned use of aggression as the first line of action in handling the emerging scenario.
He called for the application of non-kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement, and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles.
He said these strategies would 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.
“Governments 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 added.
He said 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.
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