Nahimat Adekoga
The Department of State Services (DSS) has accused the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike of sponsoring thugs to disrupt government activities and foment violence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
A statement issued by DSS spokesman, Tony Opuiyo Thursday alleged that the governor hired the youth to stage violent protest with the aim to causing mayhem and to cast aspersion on security agencies and the Federal Government.
The DSS which described the protest as a threat to peace, said it was also meant to raise false alarm implicating security agencies in the political violence that followed re-run elections in Rivers State recently.
It stressed that the protesters were meant to besiege the National Human Rights Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly, the Nigerian Army and Police Headquarters as well as British High Commission, US Embassy and the UN Secretariat, Abuja.
The governor was alleged to have hired one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a Personal Aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki to mobilize hoodlums to execute the plan.
The statement however noted that three of the protesters have been arrested and are giving out useful information.
“Though Ikenga is now at large, the trio of Emeka Idibia, Ugo Apuamagha and Ejike Nwachukwu have been arrested and are helping with further investigations,” the statement said.
It said the trio were “picked up at their mobilization venue trying to perfect the logistics for this unholy enterprise. The young men were hired by Ikenga to take custody of items and materials for the planned violent protest.
“The recovered items include banners, placards and posters with denigrating, inciting and hate inscriptions meant to impinge the authority of the Federal Government and further subvert the entire machinery of governance in the country”.
