DSS Uncovers Sponsors Of August 1 Protest, Warns Against Action

The Department of State Services (DSS) has uncovered the sponsors and funding sources behind the national protests planned for next month. In a statement issued by Peter Afunanya, the DSS Director of Public Relations & Strategic Communications, the agency also revealed a plot by certain elements to infiltrate the protests and incite chaos and extreme violence in the country.
According to the statement, the protests aim to ultimately bring about a regime change, targeting the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu. The DSS has been monitoring discussions about the planned protests by unnamed individuals and groups. While recognizing the right to peaceful protest, the DSS warned that some individuals plan to exploit the protests for violent ends, intending to discredit both federal and sub-national governments.
The DSS has identified the funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators of this plot. However, instead of responding with aggression, the agency has employed non-kinetic strategies, such as moral suasion, stakeholder engagement, and diplomatic efforts, to deter the planners from their objectives.
The DSS urges protest groups to avoid any form of violence, anarchy, or destruction. The statement emphasized that the government has been addressing economic concerns and encouraged protesters to engage with authorities peacefully. Violence, it noted, only leads to the destruction of lives and property and distracts from governance.
The DSS called on all sectors of society, including leaders, labor unions, student associations, youth leaders, civil society, clergy, NGOs, women's groups, civil servants, and politicians, to reject any invitations to participate in orchestrated violence. Parents, guardians, traditional and academic leaders are also advised to discourage their children, wards, subjects, and students from joining the planned protests.
The DSS assured that it will collaborate with other security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace, using all legitimate methods if necessary. For any concerns, the public can contact the DSS through its website (dss.gov.ng), email ([e-mail]), or telephone lines ([phone]; [phone]).