The Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday raised alarm over an alleged plot by some undisclosed elements to wreak havoc in Northern Nigeria.
The DSS said it received an intelligence report that the said group was aiming to ignite ethno-religious violence to create a protest like the #EndSARS protest which rocked the country in October 2020.
This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya.
According to the statement, the said group has held several meetings, mobilised foot soldiers, and planned to use striking university students, teachers, labour unions to distrupt law and order in the North, particularly North Central.
DSS, however, issued a stern warning to the ring leaders, as well as others willing to join them to desist from acts capable of breakdown of law and order, adding that anyone who does otherwise will face the wrath of the law.
The statement reads in part: “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby alerts the public of a sinister plan by some elements to stoke violence in parts of the country particularly the North-central.
“The aim is to cause ethno-religious crisis, ignite reprisals and heat up the polity. In a bid to achieve this, the sponsors have mobilised foot soldiers and held several meetings in and outside the target areas.
“The service is also aware of a plot to use students, striking university teachers, labour unions, disgruntled individuals and strategic groups as well as exploit the global energy situation to carry out a mass protest like the #ENDSARS.
“While the service views the machination as unpatriotic, it is on the trail of the agents of destabilisation, who are desirous of using violence to achieve ulterior goals.
“Though it has emplaced measures to disrupt these tendencies, it warns the ring leaders and their cohorts to desist from acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
“The public should be rest assured that the service will, in conjunction with other security agencies, go after the sponsors of this scheme and ensure the law takes its course.
“Citizens are advised not only to engage according to rules but should resist persuasions to be used to destroy their own country. Those who may wish to go contrary to the law will, however, face the consequences.”
