The State Security Service, SSS, says no amount of intimidation, harassment and blackmail will deter it from discharging its constitutional duties.
The Public Relations Officer of the SSS, Peter Afunanya, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that although Mr Afunanya’s statement did not make reference to a recent fracas between the wife of the Director-General of the Service, Yusuf Bichi, and the NNPP governorship candidate in Kano State, Abba Yusuf, at the airport, the content of the statement suggested so.
Recall that Mrs Bichi had ordered the arrest of Mr Kabir-Yusuf after barring him from boarding an Air Peace flight from Kano to Abuja on Sunday night.
DAILY NIGERIAN had gathered that the crisis began at the gate of the VIP lounge of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano when the motorcade of the politician caused traffic holdup, briefly delaying Mrs Bichi’s convoy from gaining swift passage into the controlled area.
Sources said the situation angered Mrs Bichi as her security guards started beating up people and hitting vehicles for “disrespecting Madam”.
But Mr Afunanya in the statement alleged that after the incident, the service had uncovered plans by some politicians and disgruntled elements within and outside the government to sponsor smear campaigns against the service.
According to him, the target of the campaign was to discredit Mr Bichi and other key officials over the service’s uncompromising stance on some critical governance and policy issues.
“Those behind the plot have engaged Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations to not only sustain, but stage further rallies, road-shows and press conferences to discredit Bichi.
“Also, sections of the media have been briefed to implement the strategy through sponsored articles, commentaries and features to malign the D-G, his family and select officials of the Service.
“The Service is monitoring developments and will allow the plotters to either exhaust themselves or rescind the plan of action,” he said.
The DSS spokesman said the service would not idly watch a group of dissatisfied gang to undermine it and its highly dedicated leadership and management.
Mr Afunanya urged the public to be wary of the tendencies and ignore the antics of dark forces out to impugn the character of the D-G.
He restated that the SSS would continue to create the enabling environment for the 2023 general elections and confront head-on, all threats to national security.
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