Tag: General News

  • The Love Of Money Is The Root Of All Evil: Jacob Rothschild Dead At 87


    The patriarch of the Rothschild dynasty has met his maker — what does this mean for the future of the NWO?

    In this video Dan Dicks of Press For Truth covers the history of the Rothschild family following its patriarch Jacob Rothschild’s death and why it should NOT be celebrated!


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  • Customs Suspend Sales Of 25kg Rice Over Deaths Of APC Women Leader, Others In Lagos

    CGC Bashir Adeniyi speaking at the flag-off of the rice disbursement program in Lagos State.

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has temporarily suspended the distribution and sales of the 25 kilograms of rice, recently launched to improve the food crisis across Nigeria.

    The inaugural initiative, centred on the disbursement of confiscated food items, specifically the ‘rice disbursement program’ kicked off on Thursday, in Lagos State.

    However, the flag-off event targeted at residents ‘within its operational areas subsequently attracted massive participation from residents, who only required their National Identification Number (NIN) to purchase 25kg of rice.

    Unfortunately, what was to the benefit of the residents witnessed the death of no fewer than seven residents, including the ward leader of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a stampede.

    In a statement released on Monday, the Customs Service said it planned and conducted the process meticulously, setting measures in place for potential risks that may emerge during the exercise.

    The statement read in part: “As part of our process and control measures, we had Nigeria Police and military personnel to ensure crowd control.

    “We also fully equipped a medical team on ground in anticipation of potential risks during an exercise of that magnitude. Their presence was part of our proactive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants.

    “The disposal of the food items got off to a smooth start at about 0800hrs. We enjoyed the cooperation of the large crowd that obliged us, giving preferences to the elderly, people living with disabilities, pregnant women, and other vulnerable Nigerians who showed up for the exercise

    “This was the case up until about 1700hrs, as attested to by the over 5000 beneficiaries and members of the press.

    “However, unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome.

    “The crowd became desperate and charged through our barricades in search of rice bags inside emptied containers. In the stampede that ensued, some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded.

    “The Nigeria Customs Service extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this challenging time, and we assure them of our unwavering support.”

    The Customs noted that it was working with the Hospital Authorities to establish contact and engage directly with the victims’ families on their next steps.

    It is also revealed that it has commenced an internal investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

    “As a service deeply committed to the welfare and safety of Nigerians, we recognize the need for heightened sensitivity and preventive measures in all our operations.

    “Considering the recent unfortunate event, we regrettably announce the suspension of this exercise until we establish what transpired on Friday, 23 February 2024.

    “This should help us to properly articulate more robust and comprehensive action that will not defeat the noble intention.

    “We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians as we work towards addressing the challenges facing our nation’s food security,” the Customs said.

    Customs Suspend Sales Of 25kg Rice Over Deaths Of APC Women Leader, Others In Lagos is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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  • Trump as the candidate of stability? That’s how many voters now see it – Paradise Post

    David Lauter | Los Angeles Times (TNS)

    WASHINGTON — Just over a century ago, in a country reeling from a decade of war, political turmoil and a deadly pandemic, Sen. Warren G. Harding promised voters a return to “normalcy.” He won the presidency in a landslide.

    Joe Biden made a similar case in 2020 — telling voters that he could return the country to normal after years of partisan strife and the trauma of COVID-19. That argument was key to his victory over then-President Donald Trump.

    Four years later, however, with inflation having scrambled household budgets, unprecedented numbers of migrants crossing the southern border, wars ravaging Eastern Europe and the Mideast and the effects of the pandemic still lingering, large numbers of voters don’t believe Biden has delivered.

    Stability isn’t always a winning theme in elections. There are times voters demand change, sometimes radical transformation. This does not appear to be one of those years, however, according to strategists in both parties.

    Voters appear to crave a more stable world. And amazingly to those who remember the chaos of his four years in office, it’s Trump who appears to be winning the argument over who can deliver it.

    Advantage for the ‘very stable genius’

    A new poll from Echelon Insights, a Republican firm widely cited in both parties, underscored Trump’s advantage on that issue.

    Voters were evenly split on whether Trump’s reelection would mean that “things in the United States are going to become more stable,” with 45% saying his election would mean more stability, 45% saying less stability and 7% saying things would stay about the same.

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  • Texas School Legally Punished Black Student Over Hairstyle, Judge Says

    Darryl George, center, makes a comment during a press conference before a hearing regarding George’s punishment for violating school dress code policy because of his hair style, Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at the Chambers County Courthouse in Anahuac, Texas. A judge has ruled that George’s monthslong punishment by his Texas school district for refusing to change his hairstyle does not violate a new state law prohibiting race-based hair discrimination. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via AP)

    By JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press

    ANAHUAC, Texas (AP) — A Black high school student’s monthslong punishment by his Texas school district for refusing to change his hairstyle does not violate a new state law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, a judge ruled on Thursday.

    Darryl George, 18, has not been in his regular Houston-area high school classes since Aug. 31 because the district, Barbers Hill, says the length of his hair violates its dress code.

    The district filed a lawsuit arguing George’s long hair, which he wears in tied and twisted locs on top of his head, violates its policy because it would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows or earlobes when let down. The district has said other students with locs comply with the length policy.

    After about three hours of testimony in Anahuac, state District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in favor of the school district, saying its policy is not discriminatory because the CROWN Act does not say that exemptions for long hair can be made for hairstyles that are protected by the law, including locs. And he said courts must not attempt to rewrite legislation.

    “Judges should not legislate from the bench and I am not about to start today,” Cain said.

    The CROWN Act, which took effect in September, prohibits race-based hair discrimination and bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including Afros, braids, locs, twists or Bantu knots.

    The judge encouraged George to ask the state Legislature or the school board to address the issue.

    George’s family has also filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with the school district, alleging they failed to enforce the CROWN Act. The lawsuit is before a federal judge in Galveston.

    Allie Booker, George’s attorney, said she planned to seek an injunction in the federal lawsuit to stop George’s punishment and that she also would appeal Thursday’s decision.

    For most of the school year, George, a junior, has either served in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu or spent time at an off-site disciplinary program.

    “The Texas legal system has validated our position that the district’s dress code does not violate the CROWN Act and that the CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression,” Barbers Hill Superintendent Greg Poole said in a statement.

    The district did not present any witnesses, instead only submitting evidence that included an affidavit from the district’s superintendent defending the dress code policy. Its attorneys argued that the dress code policy does not violate the CROWN Act because the law does not mention or cover hair length.

    Before the trial, George and his mother, Darresha George, said they were optimistic.

    Wearing locs is “how I feel closer to my people. It’s how I feel closer to my ancestors. It’s just me. It’s how I am,” George said.

    After the ruling, George and his mother cried and declined to speak with reporters.

    Candice Matthews, a spokesperson for George’s family, said the 18-year-old asked her as he left the courthouse: “All because of my hair? I can’t get my education because of my hair?”

    Testifying for George, Democratic state Rep. Ron Reynolds, one of the co-authors of the CROWN Act, said that while the protection of hair length was not specifically mentioned in the CROWN Act, it was inferred.

    “Anyone familiar with braids, locs, twists knows it requires a certain amount of length,” Reynolds said.

    It is “almost impossible for a person to comply with this (grooming) policy and wear that protective hairstyle,” he said.

    Reynolds said he was disappointed by the ruling, and that he would file a bill for a new version of the CROWN Act that specifically mentions protections for hair length.

    “The purpose of the legislation is to protect students like Darryl … the same students that Barbers Hill has discriminated against because of their locs, their braids and their twists,” Reynolds said.

    U.S. Rep Bonnie Watson Coleman, a New Jersey Democrat who has tried to get a federal version of the CROWN Act passed, called Thursday’s decision “a terrible interpretation of the CROWN Act.”

    “This is what we mean by institutional racism,” Coleman said on X.

    In his statement, Poole pushed back against allegations that the district’s dress code is racist, saying such allegations undermine “efforts to address actions that violate constitutionally protected rights.”

    In a paid ad that ran in January in the Houston Chronicle, Poole wrote that districts with a traditional dress code are safer and have higher academic performance, and that “being an American requires conformity.”

    Barbers Hill’s hair policy was also challenged in a May 2020 federal lawsuit filed by two other students. Both withdrew from the high school, but one returned after a federal judge granted a temporary injunction, saying there was “a substantial likelihood” that his rights to free speech and to be free from racial discrimination would be violated if he was barred. That lawsuit is pending.

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  • Projection: Pelosi Calls For ‘Intervention’ Into Trump’s ‘Mental Health’

    Meanwhile, Joe Biden routinely delivers incoherent and bizarre remarks and stumbles and bumbles around on a daily basis.

    Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tried gaslighting the American people on Donald Trump’s “mental health” while simultaneously ignoring Joe Biden’s obvious and consistent cognitive decline.

    In a Monday sit-down with Sky News, Pelosi laughably argued that there needs to be an “intervention” for Trump’s “mental health” before launching into the Democrats’ tired debunked narrative about Russia collusion.

    When asked what Europeans should do to handle Trump if he returns to the White House, Pelosi ironically misunderstood the question and said Trump should “have an intervention into [his] mental health, [his] political viability.”

    “He’s really grotesque and it’s really a shame,” she added. “He’s ventured into the global scene with his chumminess with Putin.”

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    Pelosi’s curious remarks come as part of a coordinated media push claiming that it’s not Joe Biden suffering from dementia, but Donald Trump!

    The Metro falsely reported that Trump in a recent speech referred to his wife Melania as “Mercedes” — when he was clearly namedropping Mercedes Schlapp, chairwoman of the American Conservative Union, who was present at the event.

    Nevertheless, the fake news was picked up by the Drudge Report and liberal pundits and media ran with it, claiming that namedrop was evidence Trump is experiencing cognitive decline.

    The media stunt is especially ludicrous given Joe Biden routinely utters incoherent and bizarre remarks and demonstrates dementia symptoms on a daily basis — all ignored by Democrats and the press.

    Here’s a 5-minute compilation of Biden’s gaffes and flubs:

    !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src=”https://rumble.com/embedJS/u4″+(arguments[1].video?’.’+arguments[1].video:”)+”/?url=”+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+”&args=”+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, “script”, “Rumble”);

    Rumble(“play”, {“video”:”v4affl9″,”div”:”rumble_v4affl9″});

    But Democrats like Gov. Gavin Newsom (Calif.) bend over backwards insisting that Biden’s advanced age is his greatest strength.

    “I’ve seen him up close, I’ve seen him from far. But here’s my point: it’s because of his age that he’s been so successful,” he said Sunday.

    White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has likewise dismissed public concerns — reflected in numerous polls — about Biden’s obvious cognitive decline.

    And yet, in the face of overwhelming public polling showing the American people are deeply concerned about Biden’s mental health, the puppet president still refused to take a cognitive test as part of his overall physical assessment.

    No such polling shows any public concern for Trump’s cognitive health — which is why the Democrats and media are compelled to generate fake concern and reports about it.

    Meanwhile, Trump has called for a debate against Biden as soon as possible.

    “I’d like to debate him now because we should debate. We should debate for the good of the country,” Trump said.

    Biden’s flubs have gotten so egregious and obvious that Trump on Friday openly mocked him getting lost on stage at a rally.


    Follow Jamie White on X | Truth | Gab | Gettr | Minds



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  • NLC Protest: Police Place Officers On Alert, Warn Impostors Against Hijack

    IGP-Kayode-Adeolu-Egbetokun-

    The Nigeria Police Force has placed its officers on red alert ahead of the National Labour protest scheduled for February 26 and 27, 2024 respectively.

    The police disclosed the information in a statement, signed by its spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi on Monday.

    The development followed the proposed nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to protest against the rising cost of living and the Federal government’s failure to uphold the October 2023 agreement.

    The statement said, “In line with its lawful duty to maintain law and order, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed personnel nationwide and placed them on red alert to monitor the planned protest.

    “All Commissioners of Police and their respective supervising officers have been briefed and instructed to coordinate the officers on the ground in ensuring the safety and security of all participants if the protests hold as planned.

    “While recognizing the importance of peaceful protest, the Nigeria Police Force remains vigilant against any attempts to hijack such protests by individuals or groups of persons with sinister intentions.

    “Emphatically, the force, therefore, is fully prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any unlawful activities or acts of violence that may threaten peace, public safety, and security in the event of such.”

    The police further affirmed the fundamental right of all citizens of the country to engage in peaceful protest in line with extant laws while
    reiterating its commitment to ensuring the rights and freedom of protesters are protected.

    “It is vital to state that the Police has spread its tentacles nationwide to curb any attempt by some individuals who might want to leverage the nationwide protests, to create brouhaha, and such will be met with an approved legal and proportional force as the Police will not allow wanton break down of law and order, loss of lives and property like we had experienced, in some instances, in the past, in any part of the country.”

    The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun thereby, urged all participants at the proposed protest to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly, adhering to the principles of non-violence and respect for the rights of others.

    He called on the organisers to cooperate with the Police and other relevant security agencies in ensuring that their protests remain peaceful and orderly.

    NLC Protest: Police Place Officers On Alert, Warn Impostors Against Hijack is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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  • Offensive linemen to protect Purdy

    SANTA CLARA – Now that Brock Purdy is a year removed from a magical elbow repair and two seasons into a promising career, the 49ers must do better at buying him time in the pocket.

    Lapses in protection helped lead to the 49ers’ demise in Super Bowl LVIII. Hence, upgrading the offensive line is among their top priorities this offseason.

    Must they get an immediate starter, somewhere to the right of All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams? Maybe, maybe not. But they must increase the competition and depth. They have a franchise quarterback to protect, not to mention the NFL rushing champion in Christian McCaffrey, as well as other star talent in George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and, presumably, Brandon Aiyuk, who’s only locked into the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.

    Here is a closer look at the offensive line:

    UNDER CONTRACT

    Left tackle Trent Williams (team-high $30 million cap figure), center Jake Brendel ($4.7 million), right tackle Colton McKivitz ($3.6 million), left guard Aaron Banks ($2.3 million), right guard Spencer Burford ($1.2 million), tackle Jaylon Moore ($1.2 million), guard Nick Zakelj ($1 million), tackle Sebastian Gutierrez ($915,000), tackle Isaac Alarcon ($795,000), Corey Luciano ($795,000).

    FREE AGENTS

    Guard Jon Feliciano, tackle Matt Pryor, guard Ben Bartch

    2024 PLAN

    Banks is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and as an entrenched starter, don’t be surprised if he lands a lucrative deal before, say, Brandon Aiyuk or Chase Young. But what do the 49ers do at right guard, where Spencer Burford has eyes on reclaiming the starting spot, fueling himself further by his third-down breakdown in the Super Bowl? Feliciano shouldn’t be excommunicated for pointing out Burford’s gaffe, but perhaps the 49ers look for a young brute to take over at right guard and/or to challenge Brendel at center.

    While McKivitiz should be safe to return at right tackle, the 49ers need better options, not only there, but to potentially succeed Williams down the road. Williams, 35, dismissed talk of retirement after the Super Bowl loss, so another year or two is all the 49ers have to deliver him to the winner’s circle.

    The 49ers did not use any of their nine draft picks last year on an offensive lineman. That cannot happen again April 25-27. Using their top pick (currently No. 31 overall) would be understandable if it’s on an immediate starting lineman.

    2023 REVIEW

    The 49ers’ offensive line meshed into an overshadowed yet quality outfit as the season progressed. Williams’ ankle injury and absence played a big role in the October three-game losing streak. McKivitiz aptly replaced Mike McGlinchey, though he had to shake off the three sacks he allowed to T.J. Watt in the opener. McKivitz and Brendel started every game. Feliciano supplanted Burford as the starter at right guard, and that worked well up until the Super Bowl, with Feliciano leaving injured after a mixed day and Burford coming on to inexplicably leave Chris Jones unblocked on Purdy’s final pass, a third-down incompletion from the 9-yard line in overtime that led to a field goal instead of a more-needed touchdown.

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  • The Fight For Lasting Tolerance And Inclusion

    David Marshall

    by David W. Marshall

    (Trice Edney Wire) – Last year, the NAACP Board of Directors issued a formal travel advisory for the state of Florida. The advisory was issued in direct response to the restrictive policies concerning Florida’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs led by Gov. Ron DeSantis. So far, the efforts to encourage people to avoid Florida as a vacation spot have had little impact on the state’s tourism. Orlando remains the most-visited city in the United States.

    While travelers may be fully opposed to the state’s controversial policies, individuals and families do not favor altering their vacation destinations. Vacationing at popular theme parks such as Disney World can become a safe escape from the constant negativity and polarization caused by daily politics. “Travel has always transcended politics,” said Stacy Ritter, the president and chief executive of Visit Lauderdale, the Fort Lauderdale tourism organization. “People have always traveled to places where they don’t agree with the politics because they want to see something new, different. They want an experience. They want a vacation.”

    While Ritter’s statements may be true for the 2024 traveler, one cannot forget how “White Only” policies from the Jim Crow era meant that Black travelers often could not find safe places to eat and sleep since many municipalities banned Blacks after dark. Those so-called “Sundown Towns” were located across the country. As a result, for nearly 30 years, a guide called the Negro Motorist Green Book listed establishments in segregated strongholds such as Alabama and Mississippi. It also covered areas from Connecticut to California—any place where its readers might face discrimination or danger due to the color of their skin.

    The Green Book provided an extensive list of hotels, guest houses, service stations, drug stores, taverns, barber shops, and restaurants known as safe havens for Black travelers. First published in 1936, it was the creation of Harlem-based postal carrier Victor Hugo Green, who was inspired by earlier books addressed to Jewish audiences. By the early 1940s, the Green Book boasted thousands of establishments from across the country, all of them either Black-owned or verified to be non-discriminatory. The Green Book editors ended the introduction of the 1948 edition by stating, “There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges in the United States. It will be a great day for us to suspend this publication for then we can go wherever we please, and without embarrassment.”

     Eventually, the authors concluded that publication of the Green Book was no longer needed, thus signaling a point of social progress and achievement resulting from the civil rights movement. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act banned segregation in restaurants, theaters, hotels, parks, and other places. Two years later, the Green Book was no longer published. In 2024, we are seeing many hard-fought achievements being slowly eroded by state governments and courts. This is why those impacted the most cannot afford to let the flames from the civil rights movement ever die down.

    After Victor Hugo Green died in 1960, his wife, Alma, became editor of the Green Book and continued to release updated editions. The hatred, arrogance, and presumed superiority behind segregation did not automatically end with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It took time for a cultural shift to occur, where tolerance and inclusion became an acceptable way of life. Tolerance and inclusion needed to be embraced by individuals and social institutions because it was the right thing to do, not simply because of progressive changes in laws. It remains the right thing to do in 2024. Many people may never have a changed heart. They only suppress their true feelings of intolerance and exclusion by way of political correctness.

    The impact that cultural influences have on a person’s life cannot be taken lightly. Culture is an accumulation of knowledge, beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors that distinguish one group of people from another. Culture is a way of life where those beliefs and values are automatically passed from generation to generation. Culture can define a specific region of the nation; it shapes what we believe to be right or wrong and what is perceived as acceptable or unacceptable. When held to the extreme, cultural beliefs become “our way” and the “only way.”

    Through culture, many people become conditioned and passive. They do whatever their culture tells them to do without consideration of other perspectives. Passivity can be very dangerous. It leads one to believe their own culture is superior to others. Passivity can also lead to apathy by those with the most to lose. Where social progress was made through a cultural shift in the ‘60s, we are now amid another cultural shift that is reverting society back to where intolerance and exclusion are again openly acceptable. With people attempting “to make America great again,” hopefully, we will not see the need for the return of the Green Book.

    David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.

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  • Infowars’ Banned.video Platform Censored By X: Users Can’t Post Links Or Send In Private Messages

    Born out of necessity after Infowars was kicked off most major social media platforms, Banned.video is still being limited

    The Infowars video platform Banned.video was created so our information could get out to the public during the onset of what became an extreme censorship crusade by Big Tech at the behest of U.S. intelligence agency’s and the Democrat Party.

    Now, as a response to the outrageous information gatekeeping agenda of the establishment, X CEO Elon Musk is turning the site formerly known as Twitter into an alleged bastion of free speech where the masses can freely share ideas.

    While the difference between the old regime and Musk’s leadership are night and day so far, the social media site has yet to fully unlock the shackles placed on certain accounts.

    Banned.video and any link on that website are prohibited from being shared on X whatsoever, and that includes within private messages!

    Go ahead and try to share a link yourself and you will receive one of the following error messages:

    • Introducing Next Level Foundational Energy from Dr. Jones Naturals starting at 30% off! This cutting-edge dietary supplement is designed to elevate your energy levels and support your overall well-being.

    The next screenshots display what happens when users try to share a Banned.video link within a private message:


    Due to this issue as well as similar (and often times worse) censorship on other social media websites, Infowars has had to resort to a slew of alternative URLs that redirect to Banned.video until they too are targeted by the algorithms.

    For now, Infowarriors can use MadMaxWorld.tv to bypass the ridiculous technological restrictions placed on Infowars.


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  • REPORTER’S DIARY: ‘I’ll Kill You, Nothing Will Happen’— How Police Officer Threatened Me For Filming ‘Secret Raid’ On BDC Operators In Abuja

    Who would have imagined that a ride intended for the AEDC headquarters on February 21, would redirect me to an unpleasant location — one I am grappling to erase as I recall with each passing moment how a police officer cocked a gun to my neck for daring to do my job.

    The memory of being slapped by officers of the Nigeria Police, and sandwiched between two female officers in multi, who assaulted and threatened my life while in a police Hilux keeps flashing on my mind.

    I was going to AEDC when I observed a chaotic movement of men dressed in kaftans running towards the junction at zone 4, and scampering for safety.

    I also observed operatives of the police force chasing the men, whom I would subsequently identify as the BDC operators. The situation incited unusual traffic around the Zone 4 junction.

    I observed that two police Hiluxes barricaded the road and prevented people coming from the central area, and those heading to the Abuja Continental Hotel (Formerly Sheraton Abuja, Hotel).

    I concluded there was more to this. So, I was determined to find out. The journalist in me was telling me to pursue the story!

    One of the Police Hilux vehicles blocking the area had the Nigeria Police Force RRS (Rapid Response Squad) inscribed on it.

    A female trader who took note of the time the raid started, told me upon enquiry that the Police came on a raid on the BDC operators in the area.

    I observed the operatives, including police officers (men and women) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), forcefully arrested and pushed some BDC operators into Black Marias regardless of their age.

    Those found in their cars around the area were forcefully pulled out as well and taken to the parked vans. This was newsworthy, considering the recent raid on traders on Monday by the EFCC.

    “Catch that one, he is a bloody dollar man,” I heard one of the officers say, pointing in the direction of a light-skinned BDC operator running away from the scene to escape arrest. An officer got hold of him after he missed his steps and landed in a gutter.

    What’s A Journalist Doing Here?

    I didn’t see any journalists around the area, so it was like the raid was off-the-book. I later confirmed this. The raid was not supposed to get to the public. But there I was, a young journalist who chanced on the event, ready to film the raid.

    While mentally documenting the events, a 6-foot dark man clad in police camouflage approached me, wondering why I was keen on the activities of the raid. His uniform neither had a badge nor his name engraved on it.

    He wrapped a fist around my left hand and checked my press Identification (ID) card and upon seeing my ID, released his grip saying, “Ah na journalist oo”.

    At this point, I properly identified myself and asked to speak to the officer in charge of the operation. The officers there pointed to an officer dressed in a deep green uniform, black belt, and a black boot with a red beret.

    While approaching him, the officer who earlier held me by my hands alerted him that I was a journalist, and he (the supposed officer in charge) immediately covered his name tag.

    “Journalist who tipped you off this raid? Why are you here? This is a top raid and you are the only journalist here, did the BDC guys tip you,”` the officer asked.

    I disclosed that I was on an assignment and my final destination was on the axis, but the raid on the BDC operators was one I couldn’t ignore as a journalist.

    Formerly seeking permission to make videos, he replied, “Don’t take any video now, the raid will soon be over and you can film once we are living.” I complied.

    At that moment, the time was precisely 11:30 am, and what was about to happen to me was my scariest experience ever.

    While lifting my phone to film as instructed, a female officer dressed in mufti raised her voice, demanding who I was.

    “Why are you holding a phone? Who are you? Why are you close to the van,” she asked. Responding to her, the officer standing beside me said, “She’s a journalist and she has her Identification Card.”

    Dissatisfied by the feedback, she continued, “What journalist? This one came to sell dollars, she is one of them.”

    Without giving me a chance to identify myself, which I struggled to do eventually, she immediately pulled out my bag containing my laptop and slapped me so hard that I lost every ounce of composure I had.

    She pulled me by my trousers and dragged me to one of the police Hilux vehicles. The officers in mufti and those in uniforms, surrounded me and began to yell at me.

    The female officer who slapped me struggled with me to confiscate my phone while a male officer in a black uniform hit my hand with a rifle.

    Amid the bizarre situation, an average-height officer whom I would subsequently identify as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bimbo, the Commander of Anti-Violence Crime Unit of the Federal Capital Command (FCT) told the woman to release my hand and then proceeded to ask who I was.

    The female officer, however, responded, “Oga she said she is a journalist oo!” He asked me to show him my ID, and thereafter Instructed me to “get on the van, we are going to our office.”

    When I asked why, he said, “Do as I say, if I leave here, you won’t like what these officers will do to you!” He then signalled the furious female officer who pulled me by the neck into the van.

    Order From Above

    Right in the van were two male officers in police camouflage while I was left in the middle of the female officers who kept struggling to take my phone.

    “You sure say na woman be this, the way she take hold this phone tight, e be like man o, madam confirm,” one of the officers in front said. The female officer would then squeeze my left bosom and confirm I am female.

    Suddenly, the officer who inquired if I was a woman, cocked his rifle and pointed it at my throat, yelling “release this phone or I’ll kill you and nothing will happen”.

    One of the female officers would then hit my hand, causing the phone to fall off my hands to the floor of the vehicle.

    The journey later continued in silence. Then my phone rang, but the officers refused me to pick. I had been with them for 25 minutes and had yet to inform my organisation of the development.

    Despite my pleas to inform someone of my situation, the officers said I would respond to my calls when we arrived at our final destination.

    Detained As Suspect

    When we arrived at this destination, which I would later confirm to be the Anti-Violence and Crime Unit of the FCT Police Command, DCP Bimpo ordered the officers to add me to the long queue of the arrested BDC operators.

    We were subsequently asked to sit on the floor like suspects, with our hands resting on our legs. I was the only female, among the 59 males arrested in my batch.

    The officers, still holding onto my phone, ordered me to stand up to delete all videos and pictures taken from the scene, but I refused. The officers thereafter, made failed attempts to unlock my phone, which required Face Identification authentication.

    Frustrated by my obstinate determination to keep the footage, two officers in mufti pushed me in front of the admin’s office, while another held my knee from behind and forced me to collapse on my knee.

    An officer folded my hands to the back, and another held me by my neck to unlock my phone. They successfully placed the phone to my face, and unlocked my phone, giving them access to my gallery where all visuals relating to the raid operation were deleted even from the recycle bin of the phone.

    An officer, whom I will later identify as the FCT Deputy Commissioner Operation (DC OPs) further asked the officers to ‘confiscate the dollar in my bag.’

    “Sergeant, search that bag and tell me how much dollars is in there,” I heard the DC Ops yelling. The officers by this time had their gaze on me, while also filming the process. I thought they were expecting to find what I suppose would be used to change the narrative of my presence at the raid.

    “Oga no dollar here, just laptop, the charger, a pair of black slippers and money,” the officer responded. Disappointed with the feedback, he ordered a thorough search on the bag again, and the feedback remained the same, “Oga dollar no dey,”.

    It was at that moment I regained freedom from their grip.

    At this point, DCP Bimpo immediately ordered the officers to get on the van for a second operation, and they drove over to Zone 4, for another batch.

    Back at the Unit, my belongings were recorded as exhibits, and I was not treated any differently from the BDC operators who at the time were being profiled.

    When DCP Bimbo returned with the next batch, the numbers were less than 59. However, when the officers did a headcount of the total number of arrests, it was about 96, including me.

    The commander would later instruct the officers to capture the BDC operators in video footage. But when he looked in my direction, he said, “Go and sit at the back”.

    At the time, it was 1:14 pm, and I had not reached out to anyone about my plight, but with the help of some BDC operators who shielded me, I was able to pick up my phone to contact my organisation.

    I hurriedly sent my live location, images of myself and others and a series of WhatsApp voice notes messages.

    While holding on to my phone, at 3:22 pm, my colleague informed me they were outside the Anti-Violence Crime unit, but they were denied access while assuring me of my safety.

    This time, my phone battery was low, and I was frightened because it was the only hope and means of security and communication.

    “Aunty journalist, ” a masculine voice echoed from the admin office. “Come here.” I rose to my feet and walked into his office. He pointed to a pen, saying, “As a journalist, you should be able to write and pen down your statement.”.

    “Why should I write a statement, what is my offence?”

    “This statement will exonerate you, I’m trying to help you. Nobody knows you are here, nobody has come to help you. If you write this statement, I will find a way to speak to the commander,” the officer told me.

    Reiterating my stand I said, “I won’t write any statement without a lawyer, moreover my colleagues are at the gate and you have refused them entry.”

    Sitting upright he said, “What colleague, who told you they are here, if you don’t want to cooperate then get out.”

    Walking back to my position on the floor, I saw DCP Bimbo heading towards the gate. A few minutes later he returned asking me different questions.

    “Who did you say is your boss? What is your media name? What is your name? Who tipped you off the raid and who authorised you to be at a sensitive raid that morning?”

    Replying to all the questions, I said, “My name is Kasarahchi Aniagolu from THE WHISTLER newspaper, I was heading to work when I sighted the raid at zone 4.”

    I further told him I took permission from one of his officers before taking video footage at the scene of the raid.

    “I am in charge of that raid, no one could have authorised you without my consent,” DCP Bimpo replied. “You are too stubborn, he said while walking away.

    At 4 pm, my phone battery was 2 percent, and I was yet to get positive feedback from my colleagues. I became scared, and my heart started to beat faster. I was uncertain of my fate and I could no longer find the strength to be strong.

    I found strength in my tears, but the BDC operators, speaking in Hausa, encouraged me. At the time, my phone had gone off, and I had no idea of what time it was.

    While lost in thought, the officer who asked me to write a statement came to me and said, “How did you know your colleagues are at the gate?” I didn’t respond.

    He then checked my bag and was surprised not to find my phone in it. He moved towards me and said, “Give me back the phone!”. He pulled me forcefully by the hands, causing me to lose grip of my phone. The phone fell and he seized it.

    My Release

    Having sat for hours, without water or food, I stood up and walked to a woman selling within the premises and got a bottle of water. DCP Bimbo saw me and directed his secretary, named Gloria, to “take care” of me.

    Gloria took me into the office, and I asked her what time it was, and she responded, “5:45 pm”.

    I would later find out from my colleagues that it was about the same time they were meeting with the Police Force Spokesperson, ACP Muiyiwa Adejobi who was working on the situation.

    Meanwhile, a few minutes later, DCP Bimbo came into the office with a male videographer who I later found out was contracted to cover the operation. He was holding two Compact Discs (CDs) of the coverage.

    While the office became busy with men in Kaftan clustering around, enquiring about certain people who had been earlier arrested during the raid, DCP Bimbo’s phone rang.

    At this time, it was 7 pm. He asked me, “Are you Kasarahchi ANIAGOLU?” I said, yes. He continued on the call, “No sir, she is sitting in my office and we made sure she’s comfortable,” he responded to the other caller.

    When the call ended, DCP Bimbo said to me, “Young girl, you have a bright future before you”. He later instructed that my items be released and the papers for my release be made available.

    When I came out of his office, DCP Bimbo handed his phone to me, and the caller asked, “Ms Kasarahchi, have your items been released to you?” I replied, affirming it had been released.

    He then said, “I am sorry about today, please you are free to go”, and the call ended. So, I walked again into freedom after about 8 hours in detention.

    REPORTER’S DIARY: ‘I’ll Kill You, Nothing Will Happen’— How Police Officer Threatened Me For Filming ‘Secret Raid’ On BDC Operators In Abuja is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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