The Department of State Services has said that it has uncovered a plot by some persons to carry out a smear campaign against Director General, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, and other key officials of the service.
The Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunaya, said in a statement on Tuesday that the top leadership of the DSS was a target of a smear campaign because their firm position on issues of governance and policies.
According to him, those behind the plot have recruited non governmental organizations and civil society organizations to embark of road protests and press conferences to discredit the DSS boss.
He said that the DSS not yield to intimidation and harassment in the performance of its security responsibilities.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has uncovered plans by some politicians and disgruntled elements within and outside the government to sponsor smear campaigns against the DGSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi CFR, fwc and his 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 and use the occasions to discredit Bichi.
“Also, sections of the media have been briefed to implement the strategy through sponsored articles, commentaries and features to malign the DG, 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. Otherwise, no amount of intimidation, harassment and blackmail will deter it from discharging its duties. However, it would not idly watch a group of dissatisfied gang to undermine the Service and its highly dedicated Leadership and Management.
“The DSS, therefore, wishes to inform the public to be wary of these tendencies and ignore the antics of dark forces out to impugn the character of the DG. It restates its unalloyed support to the President on his resolve to continue to confront head-on, threats to national security as well as create the enabling environment necessary for the 2023 general elections to hold.” He said
