…Commends DSS on Professionalism

The Joint Civil Society Committee on Peace, National Unity and Cohesion has commended the Department of State Security Service for their prompt clarifications on Sunday Igbohos alleged attempted arrest, noting that such proactive approach was necessary to douse tensions and further ensure unity and peace for sustained internal security in the country.

“We are particularly proud of the department of state security service efforts which by the way is in line with their constitutional role of ensuring internal security in the country”.

The Committee, comprising of civil society organisations and college of bishops clergy councils admonished stakeholders to ensure that their comments on recent developments in the country are censored in order not to geopardise national security in the overall interest of the country.

The joint statement was released on friday in Abuja following media reports that security agencies made attempts to arrest Sunday Igboho, the acclaimed Yoruba activist.

Recall that Sunday Igboho had in recent times issued a quit notice to herdsmen urging them to vacate the South West. In the middle of the controversies generated by that unfortunate quit notice, caution must be prioritised. The committee maintained.

Alternate Chair of the joint committee, Dr Oduma Richard Oduma affirmed that, stakeholders have a major obligation in enhancing national security and stability of various ethnic groups in the country at every opportunity presented.

“We are deeply concerned that stakeholders regardless of their political, religious and ethnic inclinations seem to be unmindful of the implications of their utterances and disposition to developments in the country”

Dr Oduma maintained that such disposition by stakeholders, if not jettisoned could cause unnecessary tensions in the country”

“We are no doubt having security challenges in the country but it is our collective responsibility as patriots and elder statemen to ensure that the modest efforts of government in providing security of lives and property is not sabotaged on the basis of sentiments” this should be our guiding principle in making comments on national conversations.

Responding on behalf of college of Bishops and clergy councils, Rev Abel King admonished stakeholders to put the interest of the country first above every other primordial considerations.

“We have no other country to call ours, regardless of the seeming discontent over security of lives and property in the country, but it is incumbent on every one of us to prioritise national security so as to achieve the peace needed in the country”.

” Religious leaders, political leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and the media must rise to the occasion and support government to achieve lasting peace in the country” Rev Abel King maintained.

“Fake news is the fastest way to anarchy.Therefore, deliberate steps must be taken to ensure that only verified incidents are reported in order to keep the country together”

The committee further urged security agencies to review their intelligence gathering mechanism and take advantage of DSS professionalism so as to sustain the synergy needed to actualise their constitutional roles.