The State Security Service is determined to enforce good economic policies in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime. The SSS disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Peter Afunaya.

The secret police also alleged plots to discredit its directors, and other important officials, claiming that they were motivated by the SSS’s unshaken stance on some of the country’s key policy issues.

It vowed that smear campaigns against its leadership would not deter it from enforcing good Mr Buhari’s economic policies, which his regime’s critics described as unfortunate.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has uncovered plans by some politicians and disgruntled element within and outside the government to sponsor smear campaign 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,” said the statement.

According to the SSS, those responsible for the plot used non-governmental organisations and members of civil society to not only support but also stage events to discredit the security agency’s director-general.

The SSS revealed that it was keeping an eye on the situation and vowed that no amount of blackmail, harassment, or intimidation would stop it from carrying out its duty.

The statement came as protests against the SSS’s plans to detain Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, over allegations of terrorism financing continue to grow.

Last week, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) asked Mr Buhari to sack the SSS director-general for hounding the CBN governor with secret agents.

In a statement jointly signed by the SMBLF leaders, Mr Bichi was reprimanded for attempting to arrest Mr Emefiele. 

The statement was signed by Edwin Clark, Leader, South-South/PANDEF; Ayo Adebanjo, Leader, Afenifere; Pogu Bitrus, President, Middle Belt Forum and Okey Emuchay, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide.

Peoples Gazette had in December reported that Mr Emefiele had concluded plans to seek refugee status in the United Kingdom over developing threats to his position and personal safety from the SSS.

The ongoing threats against Mr Emefiele have been the most potent he has faced yet as CBN governor. He assumed the job in June 2014.