Subversive Elements Set to Recruit Students for Terrorism, Crimes, DSS Warns

Yemi Akinsuyi/

The Department of State Service (DSS) has raised the alarm that there are plots by those who it described as “subversive elements” to recruit students who will be going home for vacation into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, financial crimes, and armed robbery.

The secret police also said the sponsors of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, insurgency, and all kinds of attacks on security agents, civilians, and vulnerable populations have crossed the lines, and that the personnel of the service won’t hesitate to crush them.

Peter Afunanya, the spokesman of the secret police, who stated these in Abuja at a press briefing, noted that aside from students, recessing members of the National Assembly/State Houses of Assembly and other public/private sector workers on vacation might be predisposed to threats of various degrees.

“Let me reiterate at this juncture that those who sponsor kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, insurgency, and all kinds of attacks on security agents, civilians, and vulnerable populations should have a rethink. These persons, whether in the North or South, know themselves.

“There is no doubt that they have crossed the lines and it is now time to crush them,” Afunanya said.

The service also warned politicians, religious, and opinion leaders to mind their utterances ahead 2023 general election, saying it would deal decisively with anybody that attempts to destabilize the peace of the country.

The DSS spokesman further stated, “The Service, therefore, warned that those who are involved in these should desist from such destabilizing acts.”

He also enjoined politicians to play by the rules and avoid statements or activities capable of inflaming the fires of division and violence prior to the 2023 elections.

“Opinion molders like the clergy, religious and traditional rulers are also to guard their utterances and avoid inciting pronouncements.”

On IPOB, and the alleged ill-treatment of its detained leader, Afunanya said the DSS had, without any fear of contradiction, applied restraint in making public statements over the matter.

Denying all the inciting allegations by IPOB, he said Nnamdi Kanu was not, in any way, maltreated in custody.

He added that accusations of maltreatment negated their Service’s Standard Operation Procedure on the implementation of rights of a suspect.

According to him, Kanu enjoys full luxury at the detention facility, incomparable to any of its type anywhere in the country.

He said, “Adequate attention is paid to Kanu’s health. He has unhindered access to the best medical care and doctors. Kanu, himself, has confirmed to his visitors that the Service has never, in any way, maltreated him.

“He even confirmed to the quartet of Senators Ike Ekweremadu and Enyinnaya Abaribe; Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, and Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace and Ambassador Okechukwu Emuchay, MFR, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who saw him on Wednesday, 8th December 2021.”

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