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[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

SILENCE IS NOT A SHIELD: WHY ARAB STATES MUST UNITE AGAINST IRANIAN AGGRESSION

Weakness invites aggression, and silence is often mistaken for consent. Nowhere has this old geopolitical truth been demonstrated more painfully in recent months than in the Gulf.

When conflict erupted, the Arab Gulf states and Jordan went to great lengths to remain neutral. They condemned no one prematurely, refused their airspace for offensive operations, and positioned themselves as mediators. Their reward for this restraint? Drones and missiles raining down on their airports, power stations, ports, and residential neighbourhoods. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan were struck repeatedly by a neighbour that claims to target only "American interests" while hitting sovereign infrastructure and civilian homes.

The lesson is clear: neutrality did not protect them. Restraint and mediation failed. Iran attacked regardless, because Tehran's strategy is not driven by grievance; it is driven by intimidation. It seeks to prove that any country, however peaceful or uninvolved, must pay a price whenever Tehran deems it useful. That is not the behaviour of a neighbour; it is the pattern of an extortionist.

Contrast this with Turkey. When a threat moved toward Turkish territory, Ankara did not issue cautious statements of concern. Backed by its alliances, Turkey intercepted the threat and made unmistakably clear that any violation of its territory would carry severe consequences. Iran rushed to deny responsibility and did not test Turkish resolve again. The message is plain: Iran respects strength and exploits hesitation.

Why, then, do Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan; nations with legitimate grievances, sovereign rights, and powerful allies respond to open aggression with muted diplomacy? Why absorb strikes on their own soil, deplete their air defences, and speak the language of "de-escalation" while the aggressor faces no unified consequence?

The fears are understandable. These nations have invested heavily in becoming safe havens for global business, and war is poison to that vision. But recent events prove the threat to their future does not come from standing firm, it comes from Iran itself. Prosperity that can be held hostage at any moment is not security; it is a lease renewable at Tehran's pleasure.

There is a better path: unity, not recklessness. If the Gulf states and Jordan speak with one voice, standing unambiguously with the United States in a common defensive front, Iran's calculus will change overnight. Tehran strikes where it expects a press release and hesitates where the response will be real. Deterrence is the surest guarantee of peace.

History will not look kindly on those who could stand together but stood apart. Strength, unity, and partnership are not warmongering, they are the price of peace, and it is worth paying.

@realDonaldTrump @UAE @bna_en @Qatari @OmanNewsAgency @netanyahu @kuwaitnanews @omantvnews @JDVance @StateDept @Petranews @Israel @IDF @cnni @SkyNewsAust @BBCBreaking @FoxNews @OmanTVGeneral @BahrainMirror @UAE_News @marcorubio @SenateGOP @AP @HouseGOP @RSBNetwork @SenateDems @elonmusk @HouseDemocrats @Reuters @washingtonpost @France24_en @euronews @Europarl_EN @EmmanuelMacron @GiorgiaMeloni @_FriedrichMerz @GOP @jaredkushner @JesseBWatters @nytimes @seanhannity @ARISEtv @Saudi @TPUSA @PeteHegseth @usato

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

IRAN DESERVES ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT BILLIONS: TRUMP MUST NOT REPEAT OBAMA'S IRAN MISTAKE

Calls to hand billions of dollars to Iran in the name of peace defy both logic and justice. Before any discussion of financial relief for Tehran, there must first be an honest conversation about accountability. Who will compensate the victims of terrorism, missile and drone attacks in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain and other countries that have suffered from Iran's actions or those of its proxy groups? Who will compensate the families devastated by decades of Iran sponsored terrorism? Justice cannot be selective.

For decades, Iran has armed, funded, and supported terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, helping to fuel conflicts across the Middle East. Following the October 7 attacks, renewed scrutiny focused on Iran's longstanding support for Hamas, even as Tehran denied directing the operation. Regardless of differing views on its role in specific events, Iran's extensive backing of armed proxy groups is well documented. Any serious policy toward Tehran must begin with that reality, not ignore it.

The current shift in policy is therefore difficult to understand. Many who once condemned President Obama's engagement with Iran now appear willing to embrace a similar approach. If easing pressure on Tehran without meaningful behavioural change was considered a mistake then, why is it acceptable now? President Trump built his foreign policy on confronting the Iranian regime. Rewarding Tehran before it has demonstrably changed course would undermine that principle and weaken America's credibility!

Peace is always worth pursuing, but peace without accountability is appeasement. Before sanctions are lifted or billions flow to Tehran, Iran should demonstrate, through clear, verifiable action, that it has ended support for armed proxy groups, abandoned regional destabilization, and chosen peaceful engagement. Trust is earned through conduct, not concessions.

The world wants peace, but history warns against confusing appeasement with diplomacy. Stability in the Middle East will not come by rewarding aggression while victims are forgotten. Accountability must come before rewards, justice before concessions, and lasting change before financial relief. Anything less risks repeating the very mistakes Trump stood against and once vowed never to make.

@realDonaldTrump @JDVance @marcorubio @PeteHegseth @StateDept @DeptofWar @DailyIranNews @Iran @IranObserver0 @IranIntl_En @foxnation @OANN @NEWSMAX @BBCWorld @SkyNewsBreak @RSBNetwork @SenateGOP @HouseGOP @GOP @SenMullin @tedcruz @DonaldJTrumpJr @MELANIATRUMP @elonmusk @TPUSA @USATODAY @EricTrump @IvankaTrump @seanhannity @foxandfriends @JesseBWatters @foxnewspolitics @PressSec @SusieWiles47

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

STANDING UNBOWED: AN ACCLAMATION TO NIGEL FARAGE

Politics has never been a refuge for the faint-hearted. Throughout history, men and women who have challenged prevailing orthodoxies have often faced fierce opposition, relentless criticism, and, at times, outright hostility. Whether history ultimately vindicates or rejects their ideas, one characteristic consistently distinguishes such individuals: the courage to stand firm when doing so is neither fashionable nor easy.

Nigel Farage is one such figure.

For more than three decades, he has remained one of Britain's most influential and recognizable political voices. Long before many of the issues dominating today's political landscape became mainstream topics of discussion, he was advocating for stronger national sovereignty, greater democratic accountability, secure borders, and a reassessment of Britain's relationship with supranational institutions. Agree or disagree with his political philosophy, it is difficult to deny the remarkable consistency with which he has pursued those convictions.

His political journey has been anything but comfortable. He has endured intense media scrutiny, public criticism, electoral setbacks, and persistent personal attacks. Yet through it all, he has continued to articulate his views with conviction, refusing to abandon principles simply because they attract controversy. In an age where public figures are often encouraged to dilute their beliefs to avoid backlash, such consistency is increasingly uncommon.

It has been made clear that part of the criticism directed toward Mr. Farage has been heightened by his close friendship and political affinity with President Donald Trump. The two have publicly expressed mutual respect over the years and share broadly similar views on issues such as national sovereignty, immigration, economic policy, and the role of nation-states.

In today's deeply polarized political environment, political alliances often attract as much attention as policies themselves. Whether or not one agrees with those alliances, individuals should be judged fairly on their own words and actions rather than solely by the company they keep.

Nigel Farage has repeatedly demonstrated that leadership requires resilience. The campaign that culminated in the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union remains one of the defining political moments in modern British history, and while opinions on Brexit remain deeply divided, few would dispute that Mr. Farage played a significant role in bringing that debate before the British public. His persistence serves as a reminder that determined advocacy can shape national conversations, even when the odds appear overwhelming.
Every leader eventually reaches moments when the pressure to compromise becomes immense. Critics become louder, headlines become harsher, and calls to retreat grow stronger. Yet these are often the very moments that reveal the depth of a person's convictions. Courage is not demonstrated when applause is guaranteed; it is revealed when one continues to stand with integrity despite criticism and adversity.

Nigel Farage is therefore encouraged to remain steadfast, continue to speak with clarity, confidence, and conviction. Never allow opposition to diminish his resolve or discourage him from participating in the democratic process. Political fortunes may rise and fall, but perseverance, integrity, and consistency leave a legacy that extends far beyond any single election or news cycle. As true leadership is not measured by opposition, but by the strength to endure it with dignity.

@Nigel_Farage @10DowningStreet @ukhomeoffice @UKHouseofLords @HouseofCommons @BBCWorld @SkyNewsAust @FoxNews @cnnbrk @AP @Reuters @euronews @PressSec45 @POTUS45 @WhiteHouse @NBCNews @netanyahu @realDonaldTrump @PeteHegseth @marcorubio @JDVance @StateDept @nytimes @washingtonpost @_FriedrichMerz @GiorgiaMeloni @EmmanuelMacron @NOIweala @UKLabour @EU_Commission @TPUSA @RSBNetwork @WorldNews_X_ @donal

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

PRO-KAMALA SHOOTER ARRESTED AS TRUMP SURVIVES THIRD ASSASINATION ATTEMPT

US President, Donald Trump, yesterday, survived a third assasination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D. C. Trump, Melania, and J.D. Vance was directed away by State Security Service officers from the guest table as gunshots rang in the background. An identified shooter, Tomas Allen, 31, was taken into custody as a police officer was shot in his bullet-proof vest.

Saturday night’s attack marks the third time, Trump escaped assassination attempt—first at Butler Pennsylvania, and at Mar-a-Lago in 2024– in what many describe as a growing radicalisation of the left towards violence. Allan was a card-carrying Democrat voter.

From Iran to Brussels, resetting the rot in the world does come with a huge risk, thus it is imperative for the Presidential Security details to beef up its protection of the President. Three attempts is a failure too many. Since the death of Charlie Kirk, the left have shown an increasing violence-backed intolerance for differing opinion to the point of silencing with the bullet.

As prayers continue to pour in for the president, the media must cease the “rhetoric” spin-off and focus on the deadly radicalization of the left for hate and life-taking violence.

@realDonaldTrump @JDVance @MELANIATRUMP @marcorubio @StateDept @PeteHegseth @FBI @FBIDirectorKash @DeptofWar @DHSgov @elonmusk @DonaldJTrumpJr @cnnbrk @FoxNews @OANN @VOANews @SkyNewsBreak @foxandfriends @nytimes @BBCWorld @SkyNewsAust @RSBNetwork @washingtonpost @Reuters @AP @USATODAY @TPUSA @SpeakerJohnson @SenateGOP @HouseGOP @SenateDems @HouseDemocrats @euronews @France24_en @_FriedrichMerz @GiorgiaMeloni @EmmanuelMacron @NBCNews @CBSNews @ABC @Commanders @ARISEtv @seanhannity @OjyOkpe @JesseBWatters @secretser

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

*Why Pope Leo XIV’s Anti-Combat Comments Were Theologically Shallow — and Dangerously Political*

Criticisms continue to trail Pope Leo XIV Palm Sunday remarks after the 267th Pontifex stated: “This our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war, He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”

Leo’s speech, many believe, was targeted at US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who prayed for “wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

The sly rebuke, which made international headlines, has drawn serious scrutiny, casting the Chicago-born pontifex in the light of predecessors who meddled heavily in politics and frolicked with far-left liberalism.

From the same Bible which the pontiff drew his aspersions, there exist Moses and Joshua, recorded to have led the Israelites into divinely sanctioned combat. Records also show David as a warrior king and the author of 150 Psalms now generously recycled in the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours.

Ironically, the Pope—just like America under Trump— sufficiently acknowledges existential threat to its papacy in choosing to fortify both the Vatican and its signature popemobile with layers of security. If deterrence and self-preservation are morally legitimate for the Bishop of Rome, the theological grounds on which the logic exists must be extended to a nation of 330 million people and the only Jewish state currently faced with adversarial threat from a regime widely known as the world’s leading state sponsor for terrorism.

Nations carry both the right and the obligation to defend their citizens. Soldiers carry a tradition of prayer that predates the current pontificate by millennia. Secretary Hegseth’s invocation of faith at the Pentagon stands within a tradition as old as Christendom itself — one the Church, for most of its history, did not merely tolerate but actively endorsed.

Pope Leo XIV leads one of the world’s most consequential institutions. That office commands genuine respect. But such respect becomes severely eroded when the office weaponizes the scriptures to justify geopolitical commentary.

@Pontifex @VaticanNews @WWERomanReigns @realDonaldTrump @PeteHegseth @JDVance @marcorubio @netanyahu @IDF @DeptofWar @StateDept @CNN @FoxNews @SkyNewsAust @SpeakerJohnson @HouseGOP @SenateGOP @10DowningStreet @UKParliament @OANN @NEWSMAX @nypost @washingtonpost @Reuters @CBSNews @NBCNews @DonaldJTrumpJr @USATODAY @ABC @UN

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

We proudly stand with President Donald Trump @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu @IsraeliPM @netanyahu for their decisive action against a brutal Iranian regime that has long exported terror, sponsored proxies, and threatened global peace. All well-meaning individuals, from the U.S. Congress to countries of good conscience, should support these efforts to foster long-term global peace and stability, especially in the Middle East

https://t.co/gGDSCttKcM

@Pontifex @USArmy @IsraelMFA @KemiBadenoch @_FriedrichMerz @GiorgiaMeloni @SpeakerJohnson @USNavy @marcorubio @AP @Newsweek @SkyNews @SenateGOP @HouseGOP @HouseofCommons @USATODAY @Reuters @washingtonpost @nypost @SkyNews @BBCWorld @seanhannity @JesseBWatters @antonioguterres @UN @WSJ @tedcruz @JDVance @DonaldJTrumpJr @GOP @JudiciaryGOP @StateDept @WhiteHouse @RepRileyMoore @Keir_Starmer @JMilei @euronews @EU_Commission @EmmanuelMacron @elonmusk

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

At a time when rising poverty and unemployment continue to weigh heavily on households across Nigeria, concerns are mounting in one of the nation’s most commercially significant regions. In Onitsha, widely regarded as the commercial hub of eastern Nigeria, many traders and small business owners say their means of livelihood are being jeopardized amid ongoing enforcement and demolition exercises under the administration of Charles Soludo. click to continue reading https://t.co/50ftgjD7Rh

Nigeria: Poverty Deepens, Governor Soludo Bulldozes Livelihoods

@BBCAfrica @ReutersAfrica @ARISEtv @OjyOkpe @guardian @GuardianNigeria @cnbcafrica @AIT_Online @CCSoludo @amnesty @hrw @vanguardngrnews @PeterObi

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

GO HOME IMMEDIATELY! TRUMP TELLS JUNKETING TINUBU AS MAIDUGURI BOMB BLAST KILLS 23

Over 23 persons have been reportedly killed with 108 others injured after Boko Haram suicide bombers attacked the city of Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria.

The attack which took place at 19:24PM across at three separate locations— the post-office area, the Maiduguri teaching hospital, and the Maiduguri Monday market has drawn global condemnation, including from the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who described it as a “total disaster.”

Trump spared no words in criticising Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for “shaking hands” and enjoying “fancy diners” in a UK state visit while “people are being blown up.”

Since Tinubu took office, over 20,000 Nigerians have lost their lives due to insecurity created by Islamic terrorism. Its already impoverished citizens have had to spend over $1.4billion in ransom payments to kidnappers since 2023. And with the nation further plunging over 100 million of its population into multi-dimensional poverty due to fiscal and economic recklessness, the ruling APC government appears to have all its focus on wooing voters with foodstuffs and electronics giveaways ahead of the 2027 election.

“Get on a plane and go home immediately,” Trump advised Tinubu, “You don’t stay abroad during a crisis like this. A real leader is on the ground with the military and the people, not cutting ribbons in London.”

@officialABAT @10DowningStreet @femigbaja @HouseofCommons @UKHouseofLords @ukhomeoffice @DonaldTrump @SkyNews @cnnbrk @BBCNews @SkyNewsAust @euronews @JDVance @marcorubio @StateDept @Europarl_EN @FRANCE24 @OANN @elonmusk @DonaldJTrumpJr @SenateGOP @SenateDems @HouseGOP @HouseDemocrats @SpeakerJohnson @LeaderJohnThune @nytimes @washingtonpost @Reuters @AP @hrw @amnesty @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @NigeriaGov @HQNigerianArmy @PoliceNG @ARISEtv @channelstv @AIT_Online @OjyOkpe @seanhannity @USATODAY @UN @ntane

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

NIGERIA-UK STATE VISIT: BRITAIN MUST QUIZ TINUBU ON CHRISTIAN KILLINGS

There has been growing calls for the UK to confront Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the incessant killing of Christians in the northern part of the country, The calls follow Tinubu’s planned state visit to the United Kingdom, on Wednesday.

Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, is scheduled to be received by King Charles at the Windsor Castle before proceeding to Downing Street to meet PM Keir Starmer.

Since ceding colonial rule in 1960 and subsequently aiding the massacre of over 3 million South-Easterners in the 1967 Civil war, Britain has maintained limited intervention in its diplomatic relationship with Nigeria.

As the global head of the Anglican church, it has sat on its hands for decades as Islamic-extremism increasingly suffocates the nation's secularism to the detriment of Christians. Over 200,000 Christians have died at the hands of Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, ISWAP plus other Islamic terrorist groups since 2009.

Prominent cases include the livestreamed lynching and razing of Deborah in 2022 by pro-Jihad undergraduates, murder of street preacher Deaconess Eunice in 2016, the Owo church massacre in 2022 which saw the bloodied body of over 40 worshippers litter the pews and aisles, and the livestreamed terror attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Kwara state, last year among countless others.

Nigeria accounts for 80% of all kidnap and killing of priests, No country on earth sheds as much Christian blood, in recent times, as Nigeria.

But it is unlikely Britain's condemnation, or lack of it, will make much difference. Under Starmer, Britain has become the Western Headquarters for Sharia law—-the same under which Deborah was murdered—and Britons passionate about their country who hold strong Christian faith, are labelled “far-right.”

Still, it would be one for the records to see where Britain stands on the issue of Christain genocide in Nigeria, and more importantly if it can take a cue from Nigeria in its fight against Islamic terrorism.

@Keir_Starmer @10DowningStreet @HouseofCommons @UKHouseofLords @ukhomeoffice @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @marcorubio @officialABAT @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @SPNigeria @SenateGOP @SenateDems @HouseGOP @HouseDemocrats @LeaderJohnThune @RepRileyMoore @SenTedCruz @BBCNews @SkyNewsAust @CNN @FoxNews @Reuters @GazetteNGR @ARISEtv @channelstv @AIT_Online @OjyOkpe @seanhannity @JesseBWatters @cnnbrk @SkyNewsBreak @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @MikeArnoldTruth @elonmusk @TPUSA @AP @OANN @washingtonpost @nytimes @nypost @NBCNews @CBSNews @EmmanuelMacron @_FriedrichMerz @GiorgiaMeloni

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

“UK FOUNDED BY GENIUSES, NOW RUN BY IDIOTS”- SEN KENNEDY BLASTS STARMER

Louisiana Republican Senator, John Kennedy, has gone viral after offering a scathing criticism of the current UK government as being “run by idiots”. Senator Kennedy’s comments follow on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s comments on Keir Starmer, in which he stated “this is not Churchill we are dealing with.”

Trump’s comments came after the UK Prime Minister refused US military access to its RAF base in Diego Garcia, forcing B-2 pilots to undertake a gruesome 36-hour flight back to Missouri.

With “Operation Epic Fury” now entering its 11th day, Trump has notified Starmer that the decision to finally send its warship, HMS Dragon, only yesterday is a little too late and perhaps “no longer needed.” Starmer’s cold-feeted unco-operativeness has not gone unnoticed by Washington even as cracks to the ‘special relationship’ between both nations loom.

As the US battled to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, Starmer cosied up to pro-Ayatollah Islamists at the Big Iftar in Tilford, proudly declaring the UK’s lack of participation in the attacks.

Today, the Bank of England declared it will replace images of Britain’s finest statesman and World War II hero, Winston Churchill on the five pound note with hedgehogs and Otters. This follows after statue of the veteran was vandalised, last week, by pro-Palestinian protesters.

"Britain must get a grip. Its never been this pathetic to watch such glorious nation cower to radial Islamists for the sake of votes," a Grimsby native who pleaded anonymity retorted.

@10DowningStreet @ukhomeoffice @UKLabour @Conservatives @HouseofCommons @UKHouseofLords @BBCNews @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @marcorubio @StateDept @Reuters @AP @OANN @TimesofIsrael @netanyahu @CNN @FoxNews @nytimes @MELANIATRUMP @DonaldJTrumpJr @SkyNewsAust @washingtonpost @USATODAY @NewYorker @euronews @RSBNetwork @TPUSA @SenateGOP @HouseGOP @uk

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

The English Premier League should reconsider its policy to pause matches at sunset during Ramadan. The policy deviates from the neutrality embedded in the Laws of the Game, written by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and followed in competitions under FIFA. The principle that states that sport must not be used for political, religious, or personal expression exists to keep the game a neutral space, free from ideological or sectarian signalling.

If one faith’s observance warrants an in-game pause, what is the consistent policy for others? If every religious request required structured stoppages, a 90-minute match would struggle to remain 90 minutes.

Religious freedom is a private right, fully respected without requiring changes to the format of play. A football pitch is not a place of worship; it is a competitive arena governed by uniform laws designed to apply equally and without preference. Neutrality is not optional. It is foundational. click to continue reading https://t.co/K9jMWFJdkE

The English Premier League, Ramadan Pauses, and the Question of Football’s Neutrality

@BBCSport @TheSunFootball @premierleague @NBCSports @SkyNews @SkySportsPL @CBSSports @euronews @FOXSports @FOXSoccer @EPLworld @Reuters @Independent @DailyMail @DailyMirror @Telegraph @itvfootball @ManUtd @LFC @FabrizioRomano @FIFAcom @UEFAcom @LUFC @SSFootball @seanhannity

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

POLICE BRUTALITY AND LAWLESSNESS IN EDO STATE: END THE REIGN OF FEAR

Across Edo State, a dangerous pattern of police misconduct has taken root, one that has transformed law enforcement from a pillar of protection into a source of fear. Innocent civilians are increasingly subjected to harassment, intimidation, and violence at the hands of those sworn to uphold the law. Rather than ensuring public safety, elements within the Nigeria Police Force have fostered an atmosphere of terror, where citizens are treated as suspects first and human beings second. The time has come to confront this crisis with courage and clarity.

One of the most disturbing trends is the unlawful abduction of civilians under the guise of arrest. Individuals are seized without warrants, bundled into vehicles, and taken to undisclosed locations, leaving families in anguish with no information about their whereabouts. These are not lawful detentions, they are kidnappings carried out by those in uniform. Relatives wander from station to station seeking answers, often met with silence, denial, or demands for bribes before any information is disclosed. This practice not only violates constitutional protections but erodes public trust in the justice system and deepens the trauma experienced by already struggling communities.

Equally troubling are the incessant roadblocks that litter major and minor roads throughout the state. What should be legitimate security checkpoints have, in many cases, become toll gates of extortion. Commuters, commercial drivers, students, and traders are routinely stopped, delayed, and coerced into paying “settlement” fees to avoid fabricated charges or prolonged harassment. These illegal collections disrupt economic activity, inflate transportation costs, and humiliate hardworking citizens who simply wish to move freely within their own state. Instead of protecting highways from criminal activity, these roadblocks often criminalize ordinary existence.

Beyond unlawful detentions and roadside extortion, residents report excessive use of force, arbitrary raids on homes and businesses, profiling of young people based on appearance or possession of electronic devices, and the suppression of peaceful assembly. Victims recount beatings, threats, and the destruction or confiscation of personal property without due process. In some cases, officers allegedly demand ransom for bail in clear violation of the principle that bail is free.

There are also complaints of delayed response to genuine distress calls, selective enforcement influenced by wealth or political connections, and intimidation of journalists and activists who seek accountability. Such actions paint a grim picture of systemic abuse, not isolated incidents, they undermine legitimate crime fighting efforts and divert attention from addressing real security threats confronting the state.

The people of Edo State deserve policing rooted in accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights. Reform is not optional, it is urgent. Independent investigations into allegations of misconduct, protection for whistleblowers, strict penalties for erring officers, and community based oversight mechanisms must be implemented without delay. True security cannot be built on fear and exploitation, it must rest on justice, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to serve. Until meaningful reforms are enacted, the call to end police brutality and restore lawful policing in Edo State will only grow louder, and rightly so.

@PoliceNG @m_akpakomiza @officialABAT @NGRSenate @SenGodswill @ARISEtv @channelstv @AIT_Online @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @_AfricanUnion @UN @CNN @FoxNews @SkyNews @GazetteNGR @DailyMail @OjyOkpe @vanguardngrnews @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @ADCVanguard_ @bbcw

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

2027: FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS HANGS IN THE BALANCE AS NIGERIA LAWMAKERS THRASH REAL-TIME RESULT TRANSMISSION

Thousands continue to gather outside the Nigerian National Assembly, yesterday, in protest of a glaring subversion of the electoral mandate of millions of Nigerians by the nation’s lawmakers.

This is in reaction to the decision of the Senate and the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, to repeal real-time electronic transmission of electoral results thus preserving loopholes for potential manipulation of results through manual (form EC8A) entry.

In an age of cloud technology and satellite connectivity, the Nigerian lawmaker’s choice of analog electoral process remains a worrying subject for both global and local debate given the antecedence of previous electoral cycles punctuated by seismic corruption, violence, result forgery and manipulation toward party interest advancement .

Nigerian lawmakers must note that jettisoning the planned real-time result upload on the basis of epileptic power supply or poor rural network connectivity is flatly unacceptable. Such action clearly represents an indictment on the bewildering corruption, waste, fraud and abuse that has become a hallmark of the Tinubu-led APC government. As eyewitness antecedence has shown, pen and paper poll entry in an age of AI, clearly constitutes a retrogressive hijack and weaponisation of democracy to sustain the cancer of anti-democracy, nepotism and cronyism.

A free and fair election is the only lifeline of over 250 million Nigerians—-66% of whom suffer from multi-dimensional poverty.

With barely a year to the nation’s most consequential election yet, Nigerians all over the world must act with urgency to apply all diplomatic and civil pressure and compel its lawmakers to respect the decisions of their constituents and seal up every loophole for electoral manipulation..

@officialABAT @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @marcorubio @StateDept @GazetteNGR @femigbaja @ARISEtv @channelstv @AIT_Online @cnnbrk
@OANN @NEWSMAX @nytimes @washingtonpost @Reuters @JesseBWatters @seanhannity @SkyNews @BBCWorld @FoxNews @RSBNetwork @CBNNews @NBCNews @ABC @AP @UN @NOIweala @GEJonathan @10DowningStreet @_FriedrichMerz @GiorgiaMeloni @EU_Commission @Europarl_EN @EmmanuelMacron @euronews @France24_en @netanyahu @IDF @IsraelMFA @TimesofIsrael @UKParliament @DonaldJTrumpJr @IvankaTrump @washingtonpost @USATODAY @NTANewsNow

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

₦40 BILLION CCTV ON THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE: ANOTHER WHITE ELEPHANT IN A TIME OF HARDSHIP

The Federal Government’s inauguration of a ₦40 billion CCTV control centre for the Third Mainland Bridge raises serious concerns at a time when Nigerians are battling inflation, unemployment, failing and inadequate hospitals, poor roads, and widespread insecurity that has ravaged the country.

In 2025, David Umahi, minister of works, announced that the federal government had installed surveillance cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge aimed to prevent suicide attempts. At the time, the minister said security personnel would monitor footage from the CCTV and enforce speed regulations.

While protecting critical infrastructure is important, spending ₦40 billion to monitor a single bridge appears excessive and poorly prioritized. That same amount could have repaired federal hospitals, fixed dangerous highways, supported small businesses, or strengthened security across multiple states.

Olufemi Dare, federal controller of works in Lagos, said the CCTV centre is the first of its kind in the country. Thus, there should be a clear public breakdown on how this project costs ₦40 billion. Every item bought including the solar street lights, Hilux, cameras, monitors, KVA transformer, inverters, must and should be accounted for. More importantly, the individuals and/or agencies responsible for the maintenance of this white elephant project should be made known to the people.

Constructive governance demands that public funds be deployed where they deliver the greatest impact to the greatest number of people. Symbolic projects, no matter how technologically impressive, should not take precedence over basic human needs because this boondoggle project hardly serve any real purpose for the masses.

The Federal Government must recognize that citizens are not rejecting development or security, they are demanding prudence, transparency, and empathy. In times of hardship, leadership is best demonstrated by choices that ease the burden of the people, not deepen their frustration.
@officialABAT @BBCWorld @AlJazeera @World @BBCBreaking @CNN @legitngnews @MobilePunch @GuardianNigeria @PoliceNG @DailyPostNGR @TheNationNews @Nigeria @PulseNigeria247 @realDonaldTrump @SCRtweets @WarMonitors @DeptofWar @UN @NUJofficial @MIB_India @CNN @cnni @ICC @officialEFCC @HQNigerianArmy @USArmy @followlasg @lagostraffic961 @UnilagNigeria @OfficialAPCNg @ADCVanguard_ @PeterObi @NgLabour @OfficialPDPNig @FinMinNigeria

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

NIGERIA: ON TAX REFORMS AND DOUBLE TAXATION

Tax Reforms:
Come 1st January 2026, over 40 million tax-paying Nigerians are expected to secure a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or risk losing access to bank accounts, the Nigerian Federal Government has declared.

This additional verification burden, with which the government imposes to enforce new tax rules, has raised panic and worry for millions of citizens already in possession of transaction identifications like the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and NIN (National Identification Number).

By its new tax rules, the APC-led Federal Government violates the nation’s 1999 constitution which authorizes no exclusive or concurrent basis to impose Value Added Tax (VAT) on already taxed citizens.

Added to this violation, is the proven criminal level of fiscal irresponsibility by the Tinubu-led government in accounting for taxpayers revenue. For example, five months after President Tinubu declared an excess revenue above its N40.8 Trillion budget, it turned around, this week, to announce a N30Trillion shortfall. Worse still, the government has failed to publish both its 2025 budgetary expenditures and spending from its oil-generated revenue, plunging business and contractors in fiscal limbo.

Electoral Reform:
In over two and half years in power and with an under-average performance in economy, security and foreign policy, many worse-off Nigerians now grapple daily with the shambolic electoral process that hurled Tinubu to power in the first place.

Since reneging on the use of accreditation and transmission systems as enshrined in 2022 Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to cast a prolonged doubt on the credibility of future electoral process in Nigeria. Now a fresh window has opened for INEC’s new chairman,
Prof. Josh Amiputan, to commence implementation of electoral reforms including Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS), timely collation of results, and speedy resolution of post-election disputes among others. Without such binding reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, the loopholes that allowed for opacity and manipulation will remain open

On Party Defection:
While INEC is encouraged to work its part, the habit of cross-party defection among politicians must be strongly condemned. Nigeria’s nascent democracy yearns for party politics rooted in definitive ideologies not incessant defections—from opposition parties to the ruling APC—which creates a uniparty crony club betraying the trust of millions of voters.

In recent times, the APC has been accused of commodifying democracy by weaponising billions of alleged taxpayers funds to reward defection. If true, this constitutes a condemnable violation of the Corrupt Practices Act with far-reaching damage to the nation’s political system. It behoves on INEC and the state justice system to preserve and protect the sanctity of the nation’s electoral system by instituting guardrails against incessant and counterproductive defections.

Incessant Checkpoints in South-South and South-East:
As Nigerians journey back to their hometowns to celebrate the Christmas season, perhaps, it is a critical time for Defence Headquarters to make good the widespread enforcement of its orders to dismantle non-essential roadblocks nationwide. The Southeastern region, specifically suffers significant harm as it fields an average of 2000 police and military checkpoints across five states, making it the most checkpointed region in Nigeria, per intersociety reports. In all its major interstate roads—Aba/Enugu, Aba/Port Harcourt, Owerri/Onitsha, Onitsha/Enugu etc—a checkpoint is stationed for every four to six kilometers of road. Last year in December, these roadblocks allegedly raked in over N20 billion from extortion of commercial motorists and private travelers, resulting in illegal double taxation and costing travelers billions more in travel delays.

The Federal Government is encouraged to continue in its fight against corruption, and to reinstate petroleum subsidies as the most equitable distribution of welfare benefits to citizens. It must commit to free and fair upcoming elections and cease the entrenchment of nepotism and religious ethnocentrism in appointment processes.

Finally, the Federal Government as a matter of urgent necessity should fix the major oil refineries in Nigeria such as those of Kaduna, Port-Harcourt and Warri as this will go a long way to contribute to the alleviation of hardship encountered by innocent Nigerians.

@officialABAT @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @SenGodswill @femigbaja @PoliceNG @HQNigerianArmy @ARISEtv @channelstv @AIT_Online @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @marcorubio @PeteHegseth @StateDept @UN @CNN @FoxNews @BBCWorld @SkyNews @Reuters @euronews @AP @nytimes @RSBNetwork @washingtonpost @EU_Commission @Europarl_EN @_FriedrichMerz @GiorgiaMeloni @10DowningStreet @_AfricanUnion @seanhannity @sunrisedailynow @foxandfriends @OjyOkpe @ruffydfire @WashTimes @TPUSA @MrsErikaKirk @elonmusk @POTUS @USATODAY @ntane

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

UN, EU SILENT AS CHRISTIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ IN NIGERIA GAIN GLOBAL OUTCRY

“[Boko Haram and other Islamist terrorist groups] have killed over 100,000 Christians in Nigeria since 2009. They’ve burnt 18,000 Churches. This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza.”

Popular US late night show host, Bill Mahar, on Friday joined a list of growing concerns on the “systematic killing of Christians in Nigeria,” condemning the media for its complicit silence. This follows days after President Donald Trump described Christianity as the “most persecuted religion in the 21st century” in an address to the United Nations 80th General Assembly.

The situation is similar in Sudan, Somalia, and Syria where Christians and Druzes are hunted down and killed in infuriating numbers by pro-Jihadist Islamist terror groups.

At the UNGA80, little to no attention was paid to these Christian killings as many nations queued behind Palestine to offer strongly worded condemnations at Israel. This is the same for the EU which has constantly targeted and punished member states like Hungary and Slovenia with deep Christian values. This unfair and disproportionate fixation on a tiny fraction of global conflict by the UN and the EU begs the question of their competence to advance a charter for peace across the world.

Nigeria ranks 7th on the list of most dangerous places for Christians to live, behind Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Eritrea, per OpenDoors statistics. In 2020, Trump had confronted Nigeria’s president on the killing of Christians. Now with his return to the White House, and a glaring absence of intervention by the UN and EU, the US is urged to step up protection of Christians in the region by putting significant diplomatic pressure on the nation's leaders who lightly esteem the heinous mass slaughter.
@UN @US_EUCOM @EUCouncil @EU_Commission @USATODAY @GuardianNigeria @PoliceNG @DailyPostNGR @TheNationNews @Nigeria @SkyNews @FoxNews @CTmagazine @iProudChristian @JesusSavesUs777 @realDonaldTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr @seanhannity @Timesofgaza @CNN @cnni @AlJazeera @LemkinInstitute

[Fox News @FoxNews]

Trump threatens to halt all US aid, conduct 'vicious' military attack in Nigeria over Christian persecution https://t.co/ndO447axbR

[Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth]

Yes sir.

The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

SOUTH AFRICA’S SELECTIVE OUTRAGE: VOCAL AGAINST ISRAEL, SILENT ON AFRICA’S REAL GENOCIDES

When South Africa filed an application at the International Court of Justice in December 2023 accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, it framed the move as a moral duty born of its own history under apartheid. The government described the campaign as a “defining stand for global justice,” and senior ministers repeated that message in press conferences and UN statements. Within weeks, South African diplomats urged the court to impose emergency measures on Israel and called on other nations to join the case. The filing placed Pretoria at the centre of one of the most polarizing international disputes of the decade.

That same activism was on full display at the UN General Assembly, where President Cyril Ramaphosa and Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor devoted major speeches to condemning Israel’s military operations. They demanded sanctions, suspension of diplomatic privileges, and a global boycott of Israeli weapons sales. South African representatives also co-sponsored resolutions criticizing Israel’s conduct and supported pro-Palestinian motions in multiple UN committees. These efforts earned applause from pro-Palestinian blocs and media attention across the world, reinforcing South Africa’s image as one of Israel’s most outspoken adversaries in international forums.

Yet while Pretoria moved decisively on Israel based on Hamas propaganda, its response to ongoing real genocides in Africa has been shameful, dead silence, and zero action. In Nigeria, extremist militias such as Boko Haram and Islamic State, West Africa Province, have murdered tens of thousands of civilians, many targeted for their Christian faith. In Sudan, the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has left entire communities in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions devastated. Human-rights groups have documented mass killings, forced displacement, and religious persecution that meet the criteria of crimes against humanity. Still, South Africa has not led any Security Council push, African Union initiative, or humanitarian intervention to address these crises.

The contrast is stark. The government that can marshal legal teams, diplomatic campaigns, and global media coverage to accuse Israel of genocide has not shown equivalent urgency toward bloodshed on its own continent. Pretoria has neither initiated international proceedings nor demanded emergency sessions for African victims of mass violence. This selective activism reflects political alignment with the Arab world and the West rather than moral consistency, turning human-rights advocacy into an instrument of foreign-policy signalling rather than universal principle.

If South Africa wishes to retain credibility as a champion of justice, it must apply its standards evenly. True leadership on human rights means confronting atrocities wherever they occur, including in Africa’s own neighborhoods. Until Pretoria raises its voice for the victims of Nigeria, Sudan, and other forgotten conflicts with the same intensity it directs at Israel, its calls for "global justice" should be called out for what it is; hypopolitical theatre.

@CyrilRamaphosa @UN @POTUS @JDVance @marcorubio @StateDept @officialABAT @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @SenateGOP @SenateDems @HouseGOP @HouseDemocrats @amnesty @UNHumanRights @CNN @FoxNews @SkyNewsAust @nytimes @washingtonpost @TPUSA @Israel @netanyahu @ARISEtv @antonioguterres @channelstv @Reuters @AP @OjyOkpe @ntanew

[Civil Rights International @CivilRightsInt]

INEC MUST BE REFORMED NOW — OR FORGET FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN 2027.

As Nigeria looks toward the 2027 general elections, one truth must be said boldly: without urgent and sweeping reforms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerians should forget about credible elections. The system is broken — and it cannot be business as usual.

INEC’s performance in recent elections has left millions of Nigerians disillusioned. Promises of electronic transmission of results were abandoned at critical moments. Real-time updates vanished. Collation centers became theaters of confusion, intimidation, and manipulation. The trust deficit is growing, and if nothing is done, 2027 will be rigged in broad daylight — with disastrous consequences for Nigeria’s democracy.

The time to act is now. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, is set to leave office this year. This presents a crucial opportunity for the National Assembly and Nigerian citizens to push for lasting electoral reform. Nigerians must demand a new leadership at INEC that is truly independent, courageous, and committed to transparency — not one handpicked to serve the interests of the ruling elite.

Central to these reforms is the real-time collation and transmission of results from polling units using the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System). The technology exists. It was introduced to prevent over-voting and manipulation, but political sabotage and weak enforcement turned it into a half-measure. For 2027, Nigerians must insist that all results be uploaded live from the polling unit, accessible to the public, and traceable in real time.

INEC must be stripped of its culture of secrecy. Appointments to its leadership must be depoliticized and subject to rigorous public scrutiny. A robust digital infrastructure must be legally mandated, backed by enforcement mechanisms that criminalize tampering, delay, or obstruction of result uploads. This is non-negotiable.

Nigerians must not accept anything less and must rise, mobilize, and pressure lawmakers to act now, not in 2026. Civil society, the media, and all who care about the future must demand a transparent, reformed INEC, with legal frameworks that guarantee credible polls. The survival of Nigeria's democracy depends on it.

@NGRPresident @NGRSenate @officialABAT @femigbaja @GazetteNGR @DailyTimesNGR @IndependentNGR @DailyPostNGR @thesunnigeria @vanguardngrnews @ARISEtv @channelstv @AIT_Online @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @marcorubio @StateDept @UN @_AfricanUnion @CNN @SkyNews @BBCBreaking @SkyNewsAust @washingtonpost @nypost @UN_News_Centre @WashTimes @FoxNews @NEWSMAX @OANN @EmmanuelMacron @10DowningStreet @UKParliament @euronews @Europarl_EN @elonmusk @netanyahu @inecnigeria @PoliceNG @HQNigerianArmy @NTA