TheNewsGuru

Tag: Invasion

  • Trump boasts, says ‘invasion of US borders’ will end before Monday is over

    Trump boasts, says ‘invasion of US borders’ will end before Monday is over

    On the eve of his swearing-in ceremony, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump told supporters that he would implement anti-immigration measures from day one of his second term in office.

    “By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt.

    “All the illegal border trespassers will, in some form or another, be on their way back home,” the Republican said at a rally in Washington.

    As during his election campaign, Trump used broad generalisations and portrayed undocumented migrants living in the U.S. as criminals.

    While there has been a rise in crime in some areas of the U.S., experts attribute this to complex socio-political causes.

    There is no evidence of a migrants-driven crime wave, nor of migrants committing crimes at higher rates than U.S. nationals.

    One of Trump’s key election promises was to carry out mass deportations.

    To implement this plan, Trump has nominated several right-wing hardliners to join his government.

    According to U.S. media, the first raids are set to begin shortly after his swearing-in on Monday.

    These are initially planned in Chicago and may also extend to other cities.

    The action is scheduled to last for a week.

  • Analysis: Now that Emefiele is back, what next?

    Analysis: Now that Emefiele is back, what next?

    The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, has resumed duty after a long controversial absence and amid reports Monday that operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) invaded the headquarters of the CBN and took over his office.

    A statement by the Bank’s Director of Corporate Communications Osita Nwanisobi, said Emefiele resumed from his annual vacation with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 and 24.

    “Mr. Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari,” the statement said.

    Although the State Service denied occupying the CBN headquarters on Monday, the speculation about the invasion of the Bank Governor’s office and purported arrest can be traced to the alarm raised by a group of senior lawyers about a week ago, where they accused the SSS of secretly planning to arrest Emefiele, without recourse to the rule of law.

    The CBN Governor had been accused of siphoning stamp duty charges to the tune of N89.09tn, among other allegations of corruption and was said to be a terrorist financier.

    The SSS had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Bank Governor seeking an order for his arrest, a request which the court refused to grant on the ground that it lacked sufficient evidence.

    Similarly, Justice M.A. Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory issued an order restraining the Service from arresting and detaining Emefiele over the unsubstantiated allegations.

    “In spite of these two categorical judicial decisions, we observe moves to still proceed and sidetrack and disobey the court decisions and unduly and unlawfully interfere with Mr. Emefiele’s fundamental rights.

    “The court, as the last hope of the citizen, has made a pronouncement on the legal rights and obligations of citizen Godwin Emefiele, it behooves all agencies of government to obey the order of the court until such order is set aside by an appellate court,” the senior lawyers said in a letter addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

    Credibility of the Allegation

    Some political analysts have observed that the allegation of financing terrorist activities leveled against the CBN Governor may yet be a time-proven ploy used by the State to unlawfully remove some persons from office.

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, noted that a former Governor of the Bank Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was ousted from office in a similar manner four months before his due retirement date after he was accused of “financial recklessness, misconduct and far-reaching irregularities”.

    Speaking during a Channels TV program, Falana noted that Sanusi was equally accused of terrorism financing and was arrested after returning to the country from Niamey, Niger Republic, where he attended the meeting of the Governor of the Central Bank in West Africa.

    “He challenged the government at the Federal High Court and low and behold, in the counter-affidavit filed by the State Security Service, it was alleged that he was being investigated for terrorism financing.

    “He won the case according to the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Buba. The allegation of terrorism financing was an afterthought designed to

    In the same way, the Center for Financial Surveillance and Illicit Transaction Tracking Group (CSITT) said that Nigeria risked being blacklisted by the Egmont Group, in the face of the allegations against Emefiele, which it insinuated was not unconnected with the new cash withdrawal policy of the apex bank.

    The director of CSITT, John Dimu, said in a statement that the plot to remove the CBN Governor for political and pecuniary reasons, was not only a huge shame but against the ethics of the Egmont group to which Nigeria was a member.

    The President of Middle Belt Youth Vanguard, Godwin Meliga, who incidentally was arrested about a week ago by operatives of the State Service had hailed the decision of the CBN to redesign the highest denominations of the naira, a development he said would put a stop to money laundering, vote buying, ransom taking and counterfeiting.

    Meliga noted that the policy would also put more money in the vaults of the banks with which they can use to finance the formal sector for the benefit of the economy, as well as improve the chances of a free and fair election.

    His wife disclosed that the men of the Service had been on his trail and earlier arrested one Samson Babalola who was said to be driving Meliga’s car.

    She added that family contacts within the Service had confirmed to them that her husband was arrested for causing the Service untold embarrassment through the exposure of the plot to frame the CBN Governor.

    It is believed that Emefiele may not be arrested by the SSS in view of the subsisting restraining court order but might be compelled to voluntarily resign his appointment in the coming days.

  • Army debunks allegation of invasion of Abia community

    Army debunks allegation of invasion of Abia community

    The Nigerian Army has debunked the allegation that troops of 82 Division invaded Amangu community in Abia over abduction of a solders who was on official leave.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu debunked the allegation in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said the army authorities deemed it necessary to clear the air on the incident considering the weighty nature of the allegation.

    He said operations conducted in the area was to rescue a soldier, Sgt. Bassey Ikunugwan, who was officially on leave, but abducted on Nov. 2, along Okwu-Ebem Ohafia road in Abia.

    According to him, troops on Nov. 3, acting on credible intelligence, embarked on a search and rescue operation at Amangu village and forest, a confirmed enclave of Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network.

    Nwachukwu said that troops came in contact with members of the proscribed armed groups during the operation resulting in exchange of fire.

    He added that another operation on Nov. 4 at Okon Aku led to the killing of one of the criminals and recovery of one AK 47 rifle with a magazine loaded with seven rounds of 7.62mm (Special) and one mobile phone.

    According to him, in a follow up operation on Nov. 5, troops raided another enclave of the groups around the Amangu village and neutralised two of the criminals, while some fled with gunshot wounds.

    “Troops recovered two locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, four Pump Action guns, one locally made Pistol, one Sniper rifle, six magazines, 13 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) and one motorcycle.

    “Other items recovered from the dissidents are two CCTV cameras, one solar panel, flags, one walkie-talkie, two mobile phones, two pamphlets of Biafran anthem, one INEC box, 12 face caps, machetes, pairs of combat boots and pairs of rain boot.

    Other items recovered are, camouflage uniforms, one transistor radio, two jungle hats, two knee guards, one power bank, one INEC image capturing machine and a PVC.

    “Sadly, during these engagements, one soldier paid the supreme sacrifice,” he said.

    Nwachukwu said the Nigerian army would leave no stone unturned in the search of the abducted soldier.

    He assured that all operations would be conducted within the ambit of the law and in line with global best practices, Rules of Engagement and Code of Conducts guiding Army operations.

    According to him, it should be clear to all that criminal attack and abduction of service personnel is an act against the state which will not go without consequences.

    “The recourse to employment of propaganda by these criminal elements will not deter the Army from carrying out its constitutional mandate.

    “Law abiding citizens of Amangu community are also advised to go about their legitimate businesses without panic, as the military is always on ground to protect lives and properties,” be said.

  • Consider leaving Russia now – U.S. urges citizens

    Consider leaving Russia now – U.S. urges citizens

    U.S. citizens should consider leaving Russia immediately on commercial flights, the State Department said on Sunday, citing an increasing number of airlines canceling flights and countries closing their airspace to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

    “U.S. citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available,” said a security alert dated Feb. 27 on the web site of U.S. embassy in Moscow,” the State Department added.

    It has asked U.S. citizens to have “a contingency plan that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.”

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two, has unleashed a barrage of Western reprisals, with U.S. and European governments imposing sanctions on Russian banks and financial institutions.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the attack a “special operation” through which he aims to demilitarise Moscow’s southern neighbor.

    The State Department has kept its travel advisory for Russia at “Level 4: Do Not Travel”. On Feb. 20, the U.S. embassy in Moscow had advised Americans in the country to have an evacuation plan, citing the threat of attacks in Moscow and along the Russian border with Ukraine.

  • Ukraine Invasion: 25 killed, 102 injured in military airstrikes – UN

    Ukraine Invasion: 25 killed, 102 injured in military airstrikes – UN

    UN says it has received reports of at least 127 civilian casualties out of which 25 were killed and 102 injured in the Ukraine crisis caused by shelling and airstrikes.

    The UN rights agency, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said the number was very likely to be underestimated.

    Two days since Russia launched military operations inside Ukraine, the UN rights office, OHCHR, confirmed that many civilians have already been killed and injured.

    “We are gravely concerned about developments over the course of the day yesterday and overnight in Ukraine. We are receiving increasing reports of civilian casualties.

    “Civilians are terrified of further escalation, with many attempting to flee their homes and others taking shelter where possible.

    “As the High Commissioner has warned, the military action by the Russian Federation clearly violates international law. It puts at risk countless lives and it must be immediately halted,’’ OHCHR spokesperson, Ms Ravina Shamdasani said.

    “The High Commissioner stresses that states that fail to take all reasonable measures to settle their international disputes by peaceful means fall short of complying with their obligation to protect the right to life.

    “We urge full respect for international humanitarian law and international human right law.’’

    Shamdasani said the agency was disturbed by the multiple arbitrary arrests of demonstrators in Russia, who were protesting against war yesterday (Thursday).

    “We understand more than 1,800 protesters were arrested. It is unclear whether some have now been released.

    “Arresting individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression or of peaceful assembly constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

    “We call on the authorities to ensure the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained for exercising these rights.

    “Our UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission remains in Ukraine and will continue to closely monitor and report on the situation,” she said.

  • Display Chinese flag if you need to drive anywhere- China tells citizens in Ukraine

    Display Chinese flag if you need to drive anywhere- China tells citizens in Ukraine

    China has advised its citizens in Ukraine to stay home or at least take the precaution of displaying a Chinese flag if they needed to drive anywhere, describing Russia’s moves on Ukraine as no invasion.

    Russian forces on Thursday fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine and landed troops on its coast after President Vladimir Putin authorized what he called a special military operation in the east.

    This is perhaps a difference between China and you Westerners. We won’t go rushing to a conclusion

    Speaking on the development, a spokesperson at China’s foreign ministry, Hua Chunying, said “regarding the definition of an invasion, I think we should go back to how to view the current situation in Ukraine.

    “The Ukrainian issue has other very complicated historical backgrounds that has continued to today. It may not be what everyone wants to see.”

    At a packed daily media briefing in Beijing, Hua bridled at journalists’ characterization of Russia’s actions.

    “This is perhaps a difference between China and you Westerners. We won’t go rushing to a conclusion,” she said.

    The ministry said later that senior diplomat Wang Yi, also China’s foreign minister, had spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

    Wang said that the Ukraine issue had a “complex” history and reiterated that China understands what it called Russia’s “legitimate concerns” on security, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

    Russia’s attack comes weeks after Putin met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, just before the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

    The two sides announced a strategic partnership aimed at countering U.S. influence and said they would have “no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation”.

  • Invasion of Ukraine: US President Biden announces sanctions on Russia

    Invasion of Ukraine: US President Biden announces sanctions on Russia

    U.S. President Joe Biden, on Tuesday announced first tranche of sanctions on Russia, following its decision to recognise the independence of certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

    Biden, in a speech from the White House, said the Russian leader had committed “a flagrant violation of international law.”

    According to him, Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine by declaring these independent states.

    “So, today, I’m announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions yesterday (Monday).

    “These have been closely coordinated with our Allies and partners, and we’ll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.

    “We’re implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions: V.E.B. and their military bank.

    “We’re implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt. That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing.

    “It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either.’’

    Biden said the announcement made by Russia meant that it was carving out a big chunk of Ukraine.

    “He’s setting up a rationale to take more territory by force, in my view. This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

    That served as the trigger for the U.S. to impose sanctions. Biden said, Russia “will pay an even steeper price” if aggressions continue.

    In addition, Biden said that U.S. would also impose sanctions on Russia’s elites and their family members, noting that they shared in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well.

    He said because of Russia’s actions, U.S. would work with Germany to ensure owned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not — as I promised — will not move forward.

    “As Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well. Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions.

    “The United States will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine in the meantime. And we’ll continue to reinforce and reassure our NATO Allies.’’

    The U.S. leader said President Vladimir Putin’s has sought authorisation from the Russian parliament to use military force outside of Russian territory.

    “And this set the stage for further pretexts and further provocations by Russia to try to justify further military action.

    “None of us — none of us should be fooled. None of us will be fooled. There is no justification.

    “Further Russian assault into Ukraine remains a severe threat in the days ahead. And if Russia proceeds, it is Russia, and Russia alone, that bears the responsibility.’’

    Russian lawmakers have approved Putin’s request for permission to use Russian troops outside of the country.

    The UN Security Council met late on Monday in an emergency session, with many members condemning the Kremlin’s actions.

  • JUST IN: Police parade 14, led by fake CSP over invasion of Justice Odili’s home

    JUST IN: Police parade 14, led by fake CSP over invasion of Justice Odili’s home

    The Nigeria police high command has arrested 14 suspects who raided the home of Supreme court judge, Justice Odili.

    The suspects consist of syndicates drawn from police, military, journalism and the legal profession.

    Police spokesman Frank Mba, who paraded the suspects, said seven of them, including two soldiers are at large.

    He vowed that all suspects at large would be apprehended.

    Mba noted that the leader of the illegal operation is a fake Chief Superintendent of police.

    He said the criminals are loose canons and document forgers who were on their own and not hired by any personnel of the ministry of justice.

    One Stanley Nkwazeme, a journalist was also part of the syndicates arrested.

  • How bandits’ invasion of NDA premises embarrassed me – CDS Irabor

    How bandits’ invasion of NDA premises embarrassed me – CDS Irabor

    Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said that he was embarrassed that the army did not foresee the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy.

    “Nigerian Defence Academy is not a place where we could think that we should fortify to such a level that liberty that is required to be able to emplace the level of leadership learning and skills will be lost,” he said during a programme – RadioNow’s Urgent Conversations, monitored on Channels Television on Friday.

    “But that, of course, is a lesson we have factored, and it does not in any way dampen the preparedness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to what it should. And it does not in any way speak to our weakness and our inability to defend the nation”.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the academy was attacked by bandits in August, resulting in the abduction of one officer and the death of two others.

    The bandits, who came in a vehicle, were said to have passed through the security gate into the academy, disguised in military uniforms, after which they proceeded to the officers’ quarters.

    On arrival, they began shooting sporadically and in the process, killed two officers (a Major and a Squadron Leader), and later on, took another Major away through the nearby bush inside the academy.

    The sound of the gunfire, however, alerted the troops of the NDA Quick Response Team, who arrived at the scene, but were unable to rescue the kidnapped officer as the bandits were already gone with the victim

  • Reps Judiciary C’ttee condemns siege at Abuja Residence of Justice Peter-Odili

    Reps Judiciary C’ttee condemns siege at Abuja Residence of Justice Peter-Odili

    …demands thorough investigation

    The House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary on Sunday condemned the last Friday’s siege on the Abuja residence of the Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, by law enforcement officials.

    In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Onofiok Luke, the Committee described the invasion as ” a Repudiation of the Judicial Independence and an assault on the Sanctity of the Nation’s Judiciary

    According to the Committee, this unfortunate development is also a wake-up call to tighten administrative and supervisory control over the operations of law enforcement agencies in the Country

    ” To this end, we empathize with the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation who is constitutionally accountable for the actions and inactions of the law enforcement agents that purportedly executed the said warrant, placing on the AGF, the unavoidable burden of defending his office before the populace

    ” On this note, the House of Representative Committee on the Judiciary calls for a discreet investigation to unravel the persons behind this ignoble act, which is capable of straining the existing relationship between the Judiciary and the Executive arms of our democratic government.

    The Committee while condemning in totality such ignoble action pledged to every effort at ensuring the sanctity of the nation’s judiciary and assured its continuous support to the independence of the nation’s judiciary.

    According to the Committee, ” it is
    mind boggling that in the dusk of 29 October 2021, the Judiciary was once again exposed to public opprobrium, due to the uncanny manner in which the residence of the Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was invaded by law enforcement officials purportedly on an assignment to execute a search warrant, issued by a Magistrate

    ” Also disturbing is the fact that the said warrant was revoked by the issuing Magistrate who had discovered that it was procured by the Applicant on the premises of misrepresented facts”

    “As a Committee currently interfacing with the Judiciary for an improved judicial reform and justice system, we wish to lend our voice once again, to the repeated call by His Lordship; the Honourable Justice Tanko Muhammed CJN, on all Judicial Officers on the need to exercise more caution in issuing ex-parte, conflicting and questionable orders that are capable of bringing disrepute to our Justice system

    “The siege, is reminiscent of the 2016 incident, where in the beat of the night, security agencies invaded private residences of judicial officers, which subsequently turned out as an underserved phenomenon, and a dent on our professed independence of the judiciary, and demanding protection for our judges

    ” As we already know, the judiciary harps on due process in dispensation of justice and the House Committee on the Judiciary avows to collaborate with the judiciary and relevant stakeholders to secure the nation’s democracy, since the confidence and respect of citizens in the judiciary may likely wane if incidence of this nature continues unchecked”