The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged the community, religious, and political leaders in Nigeria to use the Yuletide season to preach peace, tolerance, and unity.
On Thursday in Abuja, Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer of the DSS, called on leaders to educate their subjects on safety precautions during and after the Yuletide.
Afunanya stated that the call was issued to deter criminal elements from using the festivities to wreak havoc or harm unsuspecting members of the public.
He urged citizens and residents to be good citizens in order to maintain public peace and order, adding that the DSS would work with stakeholders to maintain law and order nationwide.
Afunanya urged political actors involved in campaigns to follow the rules and avoid fake news, hate speech, violence, and acts detrimental to national security.
He urged socioeconomic sector players to avoid manipulative tendencies that could result in unjustified price increases and artificial scarcity of products, leading to increased tensions.
He believes that the media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must be objective and patriotic in their roles.
They should understand that the practice of their trade would be more result-oriented in an atmosphere of peace.
As critical stakeholders in nation building and national security management, they need to consider Nigeria first before any other interest, he said.
He promised that the Service would continue to carry out its duties and responsibilities in accordance with global best practices affecting human rights and the rule of law.
This is despite calculated efforts by some interest groups to create the false impression that people arrested by the Service are either not cared for or are denied access to their families, according to him.