*Citizens show solidarity to Service, give advice
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
According to Afunanya, the secret agency is aware that some “unscrupulous elements” are keen on exploiting the situation to cause trouble thereby disrupting the forthcoming general elections in the country. It however sounded its stern warning to such people to know that it would not fold its arms and watch them achieve their aims.
Nigeria’s secret agency, the Department of State Services (DSS) has reacted to report in circulation linking it to the escape of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the country’s second terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
It assured members of the Nigerian public that there was no truth in the report.
Promoters of the group, while the Army Exercise Python Dance II in South East region of the country was ongoing, had claimed that whereabouts of Kanu became unknown following a military invasion of his Abba, Abia State home on 14th September 2017.
That occurred as date the self styled IPOB leader, whose bail from prison was granted on grounds of health, was approaching to be back in court.
One of the three sureties that facilitated the bail, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe as well as lawyers of IPOB backed by some notable politicians, had boasted that the Army would be the one to explain to court why it should not be held responsible for the disappearance of Kanu being that it happened the day its troops “invaded” his home in Abba and the situation so remained unattended until the IPOB leader resurfaced in far away Jerusalem last weekend.
In trying to explain why Nnamdi Kanu escaped, some reports have been going the round linking the DSS to how his escape was made possible.
But in a statement by Public Relations Officer of the Service, Mr. Peter Afunanya, which copy was sent to The DEFENDER on Monday, the report was dismissed not only as fake, mischievous and defamatory but also as figment of imagination of its purveyors, whose stock in trade it is to peddle unfounded rumours, gossips and propaganda with a view to subverting the government, its key agencies and officials.
According to Afunanya, the secret agency is aware that some “unscrupulous elements are keen on exploiting the situation to cause trouble thereby disrupting the forthcoming general elections in the country.
It however sounded its stern warning to such people to know that it would not fold its arms and watch them achieve their aims.
The statement read in details:
“The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to the malicious report suggesting that five (5) of its personnel allegedly aided Nnamdi KANU, the self acclaimed leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to escape his abode in Umuahia, Abia State on 14th September, 2017.
“The Service wishes to state that the news is fake, mischievous and defamatory. It is nothing but a figment of the imagination of the originators. The public should, by now, have noted the antics of KANU, IPOB and their collaborators whose stock in trade is to peddle unfounded rumours, gossips and propaganda aimed at subverting the government, its key agencies and Officials.
“The DSS is aware that some unscrupulous elements are keen on exploiting the situation to constitute a nuisance to the freedoms of all persons as guaranteed in the Constitution and as well disrupt the forthcoming general elections. The DSS will not idly standby and watch these undesirable elements achieve their aims.
“It is to be further emphasized that the indissolubility, unity and indivisibility of our beloved country is sacred. Obstructive planners against the unity of Nigeria should, therefore, know that no individual(s) or group(s) can be bigger than this country.
“The DSS uses this medium to reassure residents of their safety and its commitment to provide the enabling environment for peace and stability in the country.”
In the meantime, some concerned Nigerians in solidarity with the DSS, have advised sponsors of such fake news apparently intended to discredit the Service to look else as, according to them, this has failed.
One of the, who spoke from the Nnewi, Anambra State, said “We and Yarima Setting led Arewa group never hid our voices about plots by sponsors of Kanu to ensure his escape to evade justice after he was released on bail.
“The complexity of the issue was in the politicisation by some known politicians but we have confidence in the ability of DSS and other security agents particularly the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) to get to the roots of all of these and bring Kanu back to justice that he evaded.”
Some other citizens however called on the DSS to work with the police with a view to making the sureties produce the runaway terrorist group leader as, according to them, his resurface, considering sign of conspiracy by some opposition politicians, looks threatening to the peace of the nation particularly coming in less than five months to the general elections.
The DSS was also advised to see the utterances in connection with Kanu by those politicians as issues to be taken seriously and act before they cause havoc by same.
