DSS Alarm Aimed At Causing Fear, Panic – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has faulted the alarm raised by the Department of State Security (DSS) about a plot to cause religious crises in some parts of the country.

Speaking to Vanguard on Monday, CAN Vice Chairman (Northern region), Rev. John Hayab, said the alarm was aimed at causing fear and panic among people.

Hayab said the alert by the DSS was being perceived as a ploy to stop some clerics from expressing their views on the state of the nation.

He noted that the DSS ought to pursue, arrest, and expose those plotting to destabilize the country through the instruments of religion before sharing intelligence reports with the public.

He said, “It has become a weekly or monthly practice for our dear Security agency to make statements that only help to create fear and pave ways for evil people to cause citizens harm.

“If you truly have a Security report about anyone or any group trying to instigate violence just do to them what the law says. But coming out to create panic every time is not good for the people who are already living in self-pity and have lost hope due to the high level of insecurity in the Nation.

“Sometimes these statements are seen as a strategy to stop people from expressing their views. Whenever a strong view has been made and others are saying theirs too, that is when you will hear security alert.”

Hayab also accused security agencies of not showing enough concern when places of worship were attacked and people killed.

He urged the DSS to go after those planning evil against Nigeria to prove the credibility of their intelligence report about the plots to invite religious crisis in some states.

He said: “As a leader of the Church, I know my people have been attacked, killed, and have had their homes and places of worship destroyed or vandalized when there was no quarrel between them and anyone.

“And in all these pains, the security agencies did not show serious concern or go after the arsonist or criminals.

“We, therefore, do not understand why they should be making statements that will only create panic when no arrest has been made and no good steps are taken to show or teach lawbreakers serious lessons?”