The Department of State Services has said it was aware of a plot to incite violence in parts of the country, especially the North-Central.
According to a statement signed by DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya, the aim is to cause ethno-religious crisis and destabilise the country.
The Service also said there were plans to use students and labour unions to organise a massive protest like #EndSARS.
It advised citizens to engage the government only based one existing rules.
“Those who may wish to go contrary to the law will, however, face the consequences,” the DSS said.
It raised the alarm over a plot by aggrieved persons to stage protests over the worsening fuel scarcity.
The DSS said university lecturers who are part of the ongoing strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities would also be part of the demonstrations.
The agency alleged that the plan was to hold protests that would be similar to the #EndSARS demonstrations that rocked the country in 2020.
The statement read in part, “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. This is despite ongoing efforts by the government to address the issues.
“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 placed 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.”
See the full statement from the DSS below:
DSS UNCOVERS PLOT FOR VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH CENTRAL ZONE
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. This is despite ongoing efforts by Government to address the issues.
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 it 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.
Peter Afunanya, Public Relations Officer Department of State Services, National Headquarters Abuja.