Students under the aegis of a civil rights movement, Students Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike, have insisted that Nigerian students have constitutional rights to protest while alleging plans by the Department of State Services (DSS) to turn its protests planned against the fee hike by schools slated for Wednesday, 6 September, into an arena of violence, and a theatre of war.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Monday, one of the leaders of the coalition, Olorunfemi Adeyeye, said the “DSS is notorious for lawlessness and an inclination to incite chaos”.
According to The PUNCH, DSS had in a statement on Monday, accused Nigerian students planning a nationwide protest against exponential increment in their school fees, of mobilising for a violent protest.
The secret police further alleged that it uncovered plans by the youths to stage violent protests to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies over “sundry socio-economic matters”.
The DSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, alleged on Monday, in an official correspondence.
Afunanya said, “Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth and disgruntled groups for the planned action. Meanwhile, the Service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy.
“In view of this development, University Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are advised to discourage their students from engaging in acts capable of derailing public peace. Also, parents and guardians are enjoined to admonish their children and wards respectively to shun the lure of participating in inimical behaviours or conduct against law and order.
Reacting to the development, Adeyeye said, “The Student Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike seizes this moment to call public attention to plans by the State Security Service to turn our peaceful, and legitimate protests into an arena of violence, and a theatre of war.
“The fact that it is the same Security Service that violated the sanctity of the court and transformed it into a battlefield in their desperate attempt to defy a court order hardly surprises us.
This incident took place only a few weeks ago. It is undeniable that the DSS is notorious for its lawlessness and its inclination to incite chaos.
“Forthwith, we insist that our right to protest is constitutionally protected”.
