DSS denies reports on terrorists’ movement, hijack of luxury buses
The
Service also debunked reports that luxury buses of three major
transport companies were hijacked on the Lokoja-Okene Road by persons
suspected to be championing an ethnic agenda.
A
statement by Public Relations Officer, DSS National Headquarters,
Abuja, Dr Peter Afunanya, reads: “The attention of the Department of
State Services (DSS) has been drawn to false reports being circulated on
the social media that the Service had alerted the public about the
movement of terrorists into the FCT and other parts of Southern and
Middlebelt regions of Nigeria.
“Another
misleading report relates to the alleged hijack of luxury buses of
three major transport companies on the Lokoja-Okene Road by persons
suspected to be championing an ethnic agenda.
“The
alert purportedly issued by the Service on the arrival of Boko Haram
and other terrorist elements to the aforementioned places has been in
circulation since 2013 when it was first created by mischief makers
whose handiwork is to cause chaos.
“Similarly,
the report concerning alleged attack on the luxury buses conveying a
particular ethnic group to their local base was first created some years
back to deceive and incite unsuspecting persons.
“The
public is urged to disregard these fallacious narratives and reports in
their entirety. As fake news that they are, the DSS wishes to dismiss
them as non-existent and therefore describe them as figment of the
imagination of their creators.
“The
illusive stories are merely designed by some zealots to instigate
ethno-religious and political crises of violent and destructive
dimensions across the country.
“It
has, however, become obvious that the main aim of engaging in these
undesirable actions is to also undermine national security for the
achievement of some ulterior goals.
“The
Service frowns at the continuous exploitation of social, religious and
tribal differences by purveyors of doom to ignite extreme violent
actions among the populace.
“While
security and law enforcement agencies are totally committed to sustain
maximum efforts in ensuring public safety in the Nation, citizens are
enjoined to disregard these deceitful reports that do not emanate from
the Service and go about their normal businesses.
“Considering
that security is a collective responsibility of all and sundry,
everyone is advised to be more committed in this regard and report
suspicious persons to relevant security agencies nearest to them.
“Meanwhile,
the Service will continue to collaborate with sister agencies to ensure
adequate protection for the people, government and critical
infrastructure. It will also not fail to make defaulters face, within
the ambit of the law, consequences of their illicit activities.”
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