By John Audu,Abuja.
The Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State acted impartially in addressing two recent incidents that threatened to ignite ethno-religious tensions, according to security sources.
These incidents involved a group of Islamic clerics proposing the establishment of a Sharia Court in Oyo town and a subsequent act of Quran burning by a traditionalist.
Sources speaking confidentially in Abuja emphasized that the DSS’s actions were balanced and proactive, aimed at de-escalating tensions in both situations. They highlighted that these incidents constituted a significant national security concern, falling squarely within the purview of the secret service.
The DSS reportedly intervened swiftly to prevent the matters from escalating beyond the public uproar they generated on social media.
Following the clerics’ announcement of plans to establish a Sharia Court, the DSS invited them for an “interview” to emphasize that only the Nigerian Constitution can legally authorize the establishment of courts within the country. Subsequently, the clerics reportedly abandoned their plans.
In a similar move, the DSS arrested the traditionalist who publicly burned the Quran and shared the act on social media.
“The Oyo Command of the DSS dealt with both situations equally,” one source stated anonymously. “This balanced approach effectively de-escalated volatile situations and prevented a potential ethno-religious crisis that could have threatened national security.”
The source further revealed that the clerics later published retractions in national dailies, highlighting the covert intervention of the DSS. Prior to this, they were reportedly invited for an interview at the Service’s Command Headquarters in Ibadan, where they were informed about the constitutional framework for court establishment.
Regarding the arrest of the traditionalist, another source indicated that the suspect would be arraigned in court on charges including possible incitement, disturbance of public peace, and threats to national security.
This article aims to present a clear and concise account of the events while emphasizing the importance of the DSS’s role in preventing a potential ethno-religious crisis.
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