#EndSARS: CNN shrugs off FG threat, releases another report - Newstrends
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#EndSARS: CNN shrugs off FG threat, releases another report

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In brazen show of audacity, global television station, Cable News Network, has released another report on the alleged shootings by Nigerian soldiers at Lekki toll plaza during the recent #EndSARS protests.
This is coming less than 24 hours after the Nigerian government had forwarded a petition to the CNN head office, complaining about the first report on the incident and demanding an unreserved apology with a threat of a legal action.
The Minister of Information and Culture,  Lai Mohammed, had last week faulted the CNN’s report on the Lekki shootings, describing it as poor journalism.
Mohammed also followed up the threat with a letter addressed to the management of CNN.
The network on Tuesday did a second report with more damning footage showing soldiers shooting at unarmed protesters on October 20, 2020.
The fresh report also shows the Commander, 81 Division, Brig.Gen Ahmed Taiwo, admitting before the judicial panel in Lagos that his men indeed took live ammunition to the tollgate.
The CNN report also highlighted the fact that Brig.Gen Taiwo’s claim is at variance with the minister’s who had claimed last week that the army fired blank bullets.
The fresh report showed protesters running as soldiers open fire at the tollgate.
The National Broadcasting Commission, which is overseen by the information minister, had last month slammed hefty fines on three Nigerian television stations for daring to use some of the footage which CNN has also used.
The Federal Government has been receiving flak from members of the United Kingdom Parliament and Amnesty International over the killing of protesters.
In a lengthy report published on CNN website, the media organisation stated it obtained a copy of the CCTV footage ahead of the Lagos panel’s sitting last Saturday, which it claimed matched and verified the footage published as part of an investigation last week on the events.
Part of the report read, ”The footage corroborates the timings CNN reported for the gunshots fired by the army. It also shows soldiers approaching protesters and firing shots.
”What is perhaps most notable is what’s missing.
”At 6:47pm, the moment when CNN has video of the army appearing to fire directly at protesters, the surveillance camera pans away from the area.”

UK lawmakers want violators of protesters’ rights sanctioned

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom parliamentarians have recommended sanctions against government officials and security agents who abused the rights of #EndSARS demonstrators last month.

The UK lawmakers, while considering a petition signed by 220, 000 signatories in the aftermath of the alleged shooting of protesters at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, expressed lack of confidence in Nigeria’s handling of the incident.

They therefore vowed to launch an independent investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting.

They passed the resolutions the same day the Nigerian government wrote to the United States-based global CNN over last Wednesday’s airing of a report on the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate.

The UK parliamentarians condemned the alleged attack on unarmed persons at Lekki yollgate by soldiers, pointing out that the proposed sanctions should not be mere rhetoric but must be carried out sooner than later.

The lawmakers said, “No action can replace the lives that have been lost, but that doesn’t mean we cannot take actions.

“We know that these individuals come here and use our banks, so we are in a unique position to do something.”

In the petition started by one Silas Ojo, a Nigerian, the petitioners charged the UK government to impose sanctions on individuals in the Nigerian government and police officers involved in human rights abuses.

 

 

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US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

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US lawmaker Riley Moore
US lawmaker Riley Moore

US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Several United States lawmakers have raised fresh alarm over alleged Christian persecution and genocide in Nigeria, urging diplomatic intervention, policy action, and international attention to the country’s ongoing security crisis.

Republican Representative Riley Moore highlighted violence by armed groups, including Boko Haram and Fulani militias, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of Christians, particularly in Benue State. Moore described the attacks as “genocidal” and has called for stronger U.S. engagement to protect vulnerable communities.

In Congress, lawmakers have introduced resolutions condemning violence against Christians in Nigeria, with some pushing to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)”, a U.S. foreign policy measure that could trigger sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Supporters argue the move is necessary to compel Nigeria to strengthen security, while critics caution that such a designation could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed the genocide narrative as propaganda and misinformation, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges affect both Christian and Muslim communities. Abuja has also hired U.S.-based lobbyists to communicate its security efforts and clarify that the violence is linked to terrorism and communal conflict, not targeted religious extermination.

Religious and civil society voices remain divided. Some emphasise the real threat to Christian communities, while others warn that framing the situation as genocide oversimplifies Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges, which include terrorism, banditry, and communal violence.

As debate intensifies, the controversy continues to influence international perceptions, diplomatic relations, and discussions on religious freedom and security policy in Nigeria.

US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

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Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo met privately with ex-military ruler General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at Babangida’s residence in Minna, Niger State, in a closed-door meeting that has sparked widespread speculation about potential political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, drew attention as both leaders emerged as key elder statesmen whose counsel and influence are often sought by Nigeria’s political elite. Neither Obasanjo nor Babangida spoke to journalists after the session, and no official statement was released, fueling discussions about behind-the-scenes strategic planning and coalition-building for 2027.

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Political analysts note that such high-profile consultations are common ahead of major elections, as party leaders, former presidents, and influential figures explore alliances, policy priorities, and national governance strategies. Observers also link this meeting to recent PDP and APC elder consultations, signaling continued efforts by senior politicians to shape the electoral landscape.

The rendezvous underscores Obasanjo’s continuing role as a political kingmaker, leveraging his network and experience to influence party strategies, candidate selection, and national discourse. With the 2027 elections approaching, similar closed-door meetings among Nigeria’s top political figures are expected to intensify in the coming months.

Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

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Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

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Vice‑President Kashim Shettima

Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

There has been widespread anger in Borno State after the All Progressives Congress (APC) omitted Vice‑President Kashim Shettima from the official banner at the party’s North‑East zonal public hearing on constitutional amendments in Maiduguri. The banner, which featured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the five APC governors from the region, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, conspicuously left out Shettima, a native of Borno State.

The omission prompted immediate backlash from party leaders, including Abdulkarim Lawan, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, who described it as “provocative and unfair,” stressing that it was inappropriate to sideline a senior party official in his home state. The speaker recalled a similar controversy at an APC event in Gombe State last year, highlighting persistent sensitivities within the party’s North‑East faction.

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Attendees of the Maiduguri hearing, convened to discuss proposed constitutional amendments, expressed support for Lawan’s remarks, with loud applause and calls for the Vice‑President’s recognition. In response, the APC Deputy National Chairman dismissed the exclusion as an oversight by organisers, insisting there was no intention to diminish Shettima’s status and affirming that the hearing’s focus remained on party reforms rather than politics.

The incident comes amid speculation about internal APC dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections, including questions around representation and leadership within the North‑East. Analysts note that repeated omissions of Shettima at high-profile events could fuel perceptions of internal rifts and affect party cohesion in the region.

Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

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