By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has identified persons and groups planning to stage campaigns of calumny against the service and government of the country.
This, it said, is not unconnected to the suspension and investigation of embattled Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.
The DSS disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, and copy of which sent to The DEFENDER.
“Such groups intend to gather at different points in Abuja and Lagos in the coming week with placards depicting the Service and Government in bad light as well as calling for the immediate release of Emefiele.
“The Service is, therefore, aware of a cheap propaganda aimed at demotivating and distracting it from professionally executing the onerous responsibilities assigned to it,” it said.
The Service said it had also noted the misleading commentaries, speculative narratives, storylines and videos being circulated in the social media by uninformed parties, critics and/or desperadoes.
Proactively, the secret agency speaks to its alertness over orchestrations to infiltrate its fold for the purpose of using disloyal staff for subversive aims against its leadership.
This paper recalls that sometimes in recent times, the same Emefiele had been alleged at certain quarters of being the brain behind several protests including the allegedly planned violent protests to force the removal of Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi as Director General of DSS.
“While these efforts are considered as hatchet jobs designed to distract, the Service warns the plotters to desist forthwith from their plans. This is more so that the arrow heads are already under watch and will be apprehended when and if it becomes necessary.”
It stated that, “It is instructive to state that the Service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials and appropriate persons access to him, right from the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so.
“The Service implements Standard Operating Procedures on Suspect Handling and Investigation to the latter. It conducts its affairs transparently, professionally and respects the rule of law in compliance with democratic governance.”
For the avoidance of doubt, the custodian of nation’s secrets assured of its professionalism in the current matters under its purview, while insisting, however, that it will, however, not be distracted or intimidated.
