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Nigeria@61: Tension In Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi Over IPOB’s Threat To Shut Down Southeast

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Following the vow by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to shut down activities in the Southeast in solidarity with its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the annual Independence Day celebration may take a new dimension in the region.

this year in some parts of the country particularly the Southeastern region following the vow by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to shut down activities in solidarity with its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

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Nnamdi Kanu for weeks has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS after he was arrested in a neighbouring African country.

Recalls that the secessionists’ group had through a statement on Saturday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful vowed to enforce a sit-at-home in the entire region on October 1st, saying there would be operation no Nigerian flag in Biafra land.

According to the statements, residents of the region were warned to steer clear of the streets as there would be no movements.

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The statement reads in part: “IPOB has declared 1st of October 2021 total shutdown in Biafra land as a sign of our rejection of the evil construct called Nigeria and there shall be no movement in Biafra land on this day.

“Everybody must strictly adhere to this directive from IPOB leadership, we want to let the world know that Biafraland is not Nigeria and shall not be. Don’t say I don’t know, a word is enough for the wise.”

Also on Tuesday, the separatist group called on agitators of Oduduwa Republic, and Middle Belt and other allegedly “oppressed tribes” in the country to join in shutting down Nigeria on October 1.

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READ ALSO: Join Us In Shutting Down Nigeria On October 1 – IPOB Begs Oduduwa Agitators, Others

Emma Powerful said, “Following our earlier declaration of October 1st sit at home order issued by the leadership of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), all Nigerian oppressed tribes should reject the Nigerian government’s evil agenda against the indigenous peoples.

“We, the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), request our brothers and sisters in Oduduwa republic and Middle Belt who suffer a similar fate with us to join hands in sympathy protest.”

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DAILY POST reports that the moves and threats have triggered tension in many parts of the region as shops, offices began to shut down about 12 hours before Independence Day.

A trader in the popular Onitsha market, Emeka Andrew, told DAILY POST that there was panic buying of food and other essential items on Thursday as there would be no movement on Friday (Independence Day).

He said, “Nobody is coming out tomorrow because no one wants to die. We all saw what happened in the previous time when such declarations were made by the IPOB so we are all doing everything possible to prevent that. I’m closing my shop anything 4pm.

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“On a normal note, even on Christmas Day, we are always here but this has to do with life and death and some of us have chosen life. Whatever you don’t buy today, you may not get it until next week. Who knows what would still happen on Monday?”

Similarly, a corps member who identified herself as Ene, serving in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, expressed fear of attack, saying she has resolved to suspend all activities and stay-at-home.

“I don’t want any story that touch, so I have cancelled all my usual activities pending when normalcy return to the state”.

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However, speaking with DAILY POST, the state’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenganyia T. Anthony said the command has established an intensive patrol and surveillance to ensure peace and order in the state on Independence Day.

He said, “We have extended our patrol and for us, we are concentrating on our primary duties which include the protection of lives and properties. So there is intensive patrol and surveillance going on”.

In the same vein, a civil servant in Ebonyi State who preferred not to be mentioned in print for fear of victimization told DAILY POST that there is “fear in the land” as the government prepares for the Independence celebration.

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“Although Ebonyi State is not like other parts of the region, there is fear in the state currently. Some unscrupulous persons are taking advantage of the peace in this place to penetrate and unleash havoc”.

But the spokesperson of the Ebonyi State Police Command, DSP Odah Loveth told DAILY POST correspondent on phone, that there is calm everywhere, stressing that “everyone is going about his or her businesses in the state”.

She said, “There is nothing like the activities of IPOB in Ebonyi and we are not going to allow that. The commissioner of police has assured adequate security.

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“You know that Ebony is going to be 25 years old tomorrow so we are preparing for the jubilee and Nigeria at 61.

“We will not allow anybody to take this Happy moment from us. The public areas will be occupied by us. The police and other security agencies in Ebonyi State will do everything possible to ensure that the state is very peaceful.

“The residents have also promised us that they will comply with the security agencies and that they will report every criminal activity to us”.

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DAILY POST’s observation revealed that parts of Imo State particularly the Orlu where the Eastern Security Network wing of the IPOB camps, have been enveloped by tension.

A resident who begged not to be mentioned, said shops and offices are being shut down already as of 4pm on Thursday.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: IPOB Orders Sit-at-home October 1, Removal Of All Nigerian Flags From Southeast

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However, Prince Marcillinus Nlemigbo, Imo State chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC who spoke exclusively to DAILY POST on Thursday, said there is nothing like security change in the state stressing that the Independence Day celebration must hold.

He said there would be movement in all parts of the state tomorrow, stressing that the governor had assured residents of adequate security.

His words,” We felicitate with Imolites and Nigerians in general on this occasion of Nigeria at 61, we wish to reiterate our call for unity as well as political and religious tolerance amongst Nigerians. ”

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“It is our common faith that our strength as a nation lies in our diversity. We must continue to respect our plurality and ethnoreligious and political differences to achieve a peaceful and prosperous nation on the sacred foundation of justice, equity and fairness. God bless you all.”

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Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Halted In Class-action Suit

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A federal judge on Thursday halted President Donald Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship, as opponents of the policy pursue a new legal avenue following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of a previous block.

The high court’s conservative majority delivered a landmark decision in late June that limits the ability of individual judges to issue nationwide injunctions against presidents’ policies.

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Several such judges had in fact blocked Trump’s attempt to end the longstanding rule, guaranteed in the US Constitution, that anyone born on US soil is automatically an American citizen.

However, the Supreme Court left open the possibility that orders could be blocked via broad class-action suits against the government.

READ ALSO:‘You Should Get It’, Netanyahu Nominates Trump For Nobel Peace Prize

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Trump’s opponents quickly filed new class-action suits seeking to block again the executive order.

On Thursday, Judge Joseph Laplante of the US District of New Hampshire granted class-action status to any child who would potentially be denied citizenship under Trump’s order. The judge ordered a preliminary halt to it as legal proceedings carry on.

The judge delayed his ruling for seven days to permit the Trump administration to appeal.

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Cody Wofsy, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who argued the case, called the ruling a “huge victory” that “will help protect the citizenship of all children born in the United States, as the Constitution intended.”

READ ALSO:Putin Says Will Speak With Trump On Phone Today

Trump’s executive order decrees that children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become citizens — a radical reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

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His administration has argued that the 14th Amendment, passed in the wake of the Civil War, addresses the rights of former slaves and not the children of undocumented migrants or temporary US visitors.

The Supreme Court rejected such a narrow definition in a landmark 1898 case.

READ ALSO:After Fallout With Trump, Elon Musk Says He’s Forming ‘America Party’

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The current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, avoided ruling last month on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order and only addressed the issue of nationwide injunctions.

It nonetheless permitted the order to go ahead but delayed its ruling from taking effect until late July to allow for new court challenges.

Several lower courts, in issuing their previous injunctions, had ruled that the executive order violated the Constitution.

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PICTORIAL: Two Undocumented Nigerians Arrested For Drug Trafficking In Libya

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Libya’s Counter-Terrorism Forces have arrested two undocumented Nigerians over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

According to a statement shared by Migrant Rescue Watch on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the suspects were caught with quantities of hashish and hallucinogenic pills, including Tramadol and Lyrica.

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Authorities also recovered a large sum of cash suspected to be proceeds from drug sales during the operation.

READ ALSO: [JUST IN] AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles Stranded At Libya Airport

Following their arrest, the two Nigerians have been handed over to the appropriate legal authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The statement said, “Counter-Terrorism Forces arrested 2 undocumented #migrants of Nigerian nationality for drug trafficking. The individuals were found in possession of hashish, hallucinogenic pills “Tramadol” & “Lyrica” as well as cash from proceeds.

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“Both individuals were referred to competent authorities for legal action.”

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31 Workers Escape Death As Tunnel Collapses In Los Angeles

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All 31 workers escaped without injuries from a collapsed industrial tunnel in Los Angeles’ Wilmington area, after scrambling over a tall pile of loose underground soil, city officials said late on Wednesday.

The trapped workers were shuttled back to the tunnel’s entry point, more than 5 miles (8 km) away from the affected area, after they escaped the collapsed section and met several coworkers in the unaffected part of the tunnel, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement.

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The tunnel, which had a diameter of 18 ft (5.5 m), trapped 27 individuals, while four workers entered the damaged section to assist with rescue, LA Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva told reporters in a media briefing.

READ ALSO: Los Angeles Invaded By Illegal Aliens, Criminals, Says Trump

“The workers had to climb through debris. They had to make themselves out through,” before they were assisted out, Villanueva said.

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Robert Ferrante, chief engineer and general manager of Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, told the briefing that a section of the already built part of the tunnel experienced squeezing ground conditions and partially collapsed.

“LAFD has just reported that all workers who were trapped in the tunnel in Wilmington are now out and accounted for. I just spoke with many of the workers who were trapped. Thank you to all of our brave first responders who acted immediately,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a post on X.

The collapsed section was a part of the Los Angeles County’s Clearwater Project, where the new 7-mile tunnel is being built to upgrade the region’s sewer system, officials added.

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(Reuters)

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