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Trump Expands Efforts to Revoke Citizenship of Some Foreign-Born Americans

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Ceasefire Near Collapse as US Launches Second Night of Strikes on Iran

Trump Expands Efforts to Revoke Citizenship of Some Foreign-Born Americans

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to strip citizenship from some naturalised Americans, launching fresh denaturalisation cases against individuals accused of fraud, terrorism-related activities, war crimes and other serious offences.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that new proceedings have been filed against about a dozen foreign-born US citizens accused of concealing critical information during their immigration and naturalisation processes or engaging in criminal activities that could have disqualified them from obtaining citizenship.

Among the most prominent cases is that of Debashis Ghosh, an Indian-origin businessman accused of orchestrating an investment fraud scheme valued at approximately $2.5 million.

According to court filings, Ghosh allegedly defrauded investors both before and after obtaining US citizenship by misleading them about the management and location of investment funds.

Federal authorities alleged that he intentionally concealed aspects of the scheme during his naturalisation process and continued the fraudulent operation after becoming a US citizen.

The latest actions are part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy by the Trump administration, which has increasingly focused on denaturalisation as a tool for addressing alleged immigration fraud and national security concerns.

US officials said the new cases were filed through collaboration between the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and federal prosecutors across multiple states.

Authorities stated that some of the individuals targeted in the latest crackdown are accused of terrorism-related offences, firearms trafficking, financial crimes and even war crimes.

Under US law, denaturalisation is the legal process through which citizenship obtained through naturalisation can be revoked if the government proves that the person intentionally concealed material facts or committed fraud during the citizenship process.

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Legal experts note that denaturalisation remains relatively uncommon because US citizenship enjoys strong constitutional protections.

However, federal courts may revoke citizenship in cases involving deliberate deception, false identity claims, undisclosed criminal conduct or affiliations with terrorist or extremist organisations.

Statistics released by immigration authorities show that between 1990 and 2017, the United States filed slightly more than 300 denaturalisation cases — averaging about 11 cases annually — making the recent increase under the Trump administration particularly significant.

The renewed push follows years of stricter immigration policies introduced during Trump’s presidency, including expanded vetting procedures, tougher asylum policies and intensified reviews of old immigration records for possible fraud.

The Department of Justice has previously argued that citizenship obtained through deception undermines the integrity of the US immigration system and should be revoked when evidence supports such action.

Critics, however, warn that aggressive denaturalisation efforts could create widespread anxiety among immigrant communities and naturalised citizens who fear increased government scrutiny.

Civil liberties organisations and immigration advocacy groups have repeatedly argued that expanding citizenship revocation policies risks undermining confidence in the immigration system and may discourage eligible immigrants from applying for US citizenship.

Legal scholars have also raised concerns that broad denaturalisation campaigns could disproportionately affect minority and immigrant populations, particularly individuals from developing countries.

Although the current list of defendants does not specifically target any nationality, the inclusion of an Indian-origin businessman has attracted significant attention within South Asian communities in the United States.

Many immigrant advocacy groups believe the development signals a broader immigration enforcement approach rather than a nationality-specific crackdown.

Immigration lawyers also noted that denaturalisation cases can have severe consequences beyond the loss of citizenship, including possible criminal prosecution, detention and eventual deportation if courts rule against the accused individuals.

The Justice Department has not disclosed how many of the ongoing cases could ultimately lead to deportation proceedings or additional criminal charges.

Meanwhile, supporters of the administration’s immigration policies argue that enforcing denaturalisation laws is necessary to preserve the credibility of the US citizenship process and ensure that citizenship is not granted through fraud or deception.

The renewed enforcement push is expected to further fuel political debate over immigration, citizenship rights and national security as the United States moves deeper into another heated election season.

Trump Expands Efforts to Revoke Citizenship of Some Foreign-Born Americans

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Education

2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates

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2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates

2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), with a total of 186,291 candidates participating in the examination conducted across Nigeria and five foreign countries.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, following the successful conclusion of the 2026 BECE Award Committee Meeting held at the Council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.

According to NECO, candidates sat for examinations in 12 subjects during the exercise, which took place between April 20 and April 30, 2026.

The examination body stated that the release of the 2026 BECE results followed the approval of the Award Committee after reviewing reports on the conduct of the examination, the marking process, and the compilation of candidates’ scores.

The Award Committee meeting was chaired by Dr Folake Olatunji-David, Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, who represented the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

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Speaking at the meeting, Olatunji-David expressed satisfaction with the procedures leading to the successful conduct of the examination and the release of the results, commending NECO for maintaining standards in the administration of the assessment.

The meeting was attended by NECO management officials, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, and selected secondary school principals from across the country.

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) serves as the final assessment for students completing Junior Secondary School education and is a key requirement for placement into Senior Secondary School One (SSS1).

Meanwhile, the Award Committee approved July 22 and July 23, 2026, for the conduct of the BECE Re-sit Examination in Mathematics and English Studies.

NECO explained that the re-sit examination is specifically designed for candidates with conditional deficiencies in either Mathematics, English Studies, or both subjects.

According to the Council, the initiative provides affected candidates with an opportunity to correct deficiencies and obtain the certification required for progression into senior secondary school without repeating an academic year.

The examination body noted that the re-sit policy remains part of its efforts to support students facing challenges in core subjects while ensuring they continue their educational journey without unnecessary setbacks.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the move, describing it as a practical intervention that offers deserving students a second chance to meet admission requirements into SSS1.

NECO urged candidates, parents, and school administrators to access the results through approved channels and ensure all result details are properly verified.

The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to conducting credible and transparent examinations through improved assessment processes, enhanced monitoring systems, and strict compliance with examination regulations.

With the release of the NECO BECE 2026 results, thousands of students across Nigeria can now proceed with preparations for their transition into senior secondary education, while eligible candidates prepare for the upcoming re-sit examination.

2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates

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Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo

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Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo

Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has declared that public schools across the state will remain closed until the government puts in place strong and verifiable security measures to protect both teachers and students following the recent mass abduction in Oriire Local Government Area.

The union said the decision followed the May 15 attack in which armed men invaded schools in parts of Oriire, abducting more than 40 students and teachers and killing at least two educators, an incident that has deepened fear and disrupted academic activities across the state.

The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (Nigeria Union of Teachers) said the worsening insecurity forced its members to withdraw from classrooms indefinitely, warning that schools have become unsafe for both learners and educators. According to the union, the strike was not declared immediately after the attack. It said it initially engaged relevant authorities in hopes of a swift response but later concluded that the security situation had not improved enough to guarantee a safe return to classrooms.

Speaking in Ibadan, NUT Secretary, Mr. Olukayode Salami, said the reopening of schools now depends on two major conditions: the safe rescue of all abducted victims and the implementation of effective preventive security measures to stop future attacks. He said teachers would not return to classrooms until there is clear evidence of improved protection in vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas that have become frequent targets of attacks. Salami added that the emotional and psychological impact of the abduction has made it difficult for teachers to continue normal academic activities, noting that fear and panic have taken over many school environments.

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The union urged the government to urgently strengthen school security, especially in high-risk communities, stressing that educational institutions must no longer be treated as soft targets. It also called for increased security patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint operations involving conventional security agencies and local security groups to prevent further attacks. Salami stressed that the responsibility of protecting lives and property rests with the government, insisting that visible security presence is necessary to restore confidence among teachers, students, and parents.

The union disclosed that it has held several meetings with government officials and security stakeholders, leading to agreed action plans aimed at improving school safety across the state. However, it said it is still awaiting full implementation of these measures, particularly in vulnerable local government areas close to forested regions where recent attacks occurred.

As a result of the ongoing strike and security concerns, many schools in affected areas remain shut indefinitely, with no official timeline yet for reopening. Stakeholders have warned that academic activities may not resume fully until the government demonstrates clear commitment to securing schools and restoring public confidence. The union maintained that while schools cannot remain closed forever, safety must come before academic calendars.

Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo

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Kwara Poly Suspends Lecturer for Flogging IJMB Exam Candidates

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Kwara Poly Suspends Lecturer for Flogging IJMB Exam Candidates

Kwara Poly Suspends Lecturer for Flogging IJMB Exam Candidates

The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (Kwara Poly) , has suspended a lecturer captured in a viral video physically assaulting candidates of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) programme during an examination exercise on the institution’s premises. The suspension followed public outrage after the video surfaced on social media on Monday, June 22, 2026, showing the lecturer caning candidates who were kneeling with their hands raised while taking turns to receive strokes of the cane on their palms. The footage triggered widespread criticism from Nigerians, many of whom condemned the use of corporal punishment in a tertiary institution and demanded disciplinary action against the lecturer involved.

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, Akinteye Babatunde, strongly condemned the incident, insisting that students should not be subjected to physical punishment under any circumstances. In a statement shared on social media, he wrote: “A lecturer in Kwara State Polytechnic asked IJMB students to kneel down, and he beat them up with a cane. Such an act is condemnable. Students are not animals and should never be treated as such. There are different ways to punish erring students, not beating them up.” Babatunde further called on the institution’s management to investigate the matter and impose sanctions where necessary, noting that “as much as students must never assault lecturers or act rudely to them, lecturers don’t also have the right to assault students” . His remarks resonated with many Nigerians who took to social media to express their outrage and demand justice for the affected candidates.

Responding to the controversy, the institution, through a statement issued on Monday by its Public Relations Officer, Hajia Halimat Garba, clarified that those captured in the video were not regular students of the polytechnic but candidates of the IJMB programme who had arrived late for their ongoing examinations. The statement read: “The attention of Kwara State Polytechnic Management has been drawn to a viral video circulating on social media in which a lecturer is seen physically reprimanding students. The Management wishes to clarify that the students depicted in the video are not Polytechnic students but rather IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board) candidates who arrived late for their ongoing examinations.” This clarification, however, did little to quell public anger, as many argued that the status of the students did not justify the use of physical force.

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While noting that the circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s action were still being investigated, the institution condemned the method adopted, describing it as wholly inappropriate and contrary to the polytechnic’s values. The management stated: “While the intention for which the action was done is not yet known, we must emphasize that the approach taken was wholly inappropriate, as the Polytechnic stands firmly against any form of violence or physical punishment as a means of discipline.” The institution reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a learning environment built on mutual respect and positive engagement, adding that “we believe that education should be rooted in respect, understanding, and constructive guidance, and that there are far more effective and humane ways to instill important values in students.”

However, some context has emerged regarding the incident. A staff member of the institution, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Legit.ng that the students involved were IJMB examination candidates who had repeatedly ignored warnings about lateness. The staff member explained that examination officials were under pressure to maintain order and ensure compliance with regulations, adding that “the Director was under pressure to ensure order and compliance with examination procedures so that affected students would not be completely denied the opportunity to sit for their papers.” Defending the lecturer’s character, the source added: “Those who know the Director personally can attest to his commitment to students’ academic success and welfare over the years. The scenario was a fatherly act to save the students.” This defence, however, was met with further criticism, with many arguing that corporal punishment is an outdated and unacceptable method of discipline in any educational setting.

Consequently, the polytechnic announced the immediate suspension of the lecturer from his duties pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the incident. The management stated: “The Polytechnic Management therefore suspends the concerned lecturer from his duties henceforth, pending the outcome of the findings on this matter.” The institution acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders and assured the public that the matter was being taken very seriously. “We appreciate the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding this incident and assure the public that the matter is being taken very seriously.”

The institution also reiterated its commitment to the integrity and values for which it is known, adding that necessary steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future. “In light of this incident, the Management wishes to express its sincere confidence to the public in the integrity and values for which Kwarapoly is known. We are determining the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.”

The incident has renewed debates over acceptable disciplinary practices in Nigerian educational institutions, with many stakeholders calling for measures that prioritize respect, accountability, and student welfare. As the investigation continues, all eyes remain on Kwara State Polytechnic to see what further actions will be taken against the lecturer and what policies will be implemented to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

Kwara Poly Suspends Lecturer for Flogging IJMB Exam Candidates

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