Venezuela: Trump is lawless, uses ‘Mafia methods’ to restore US wounded pride globally –UN, NIIA, others

*The United Nations, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, and several experts and analysts condemn President Donald Trump administration’s pillaging, sole action against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, describing the Military raid on Caracas, and extant threat to hit other sovereign countries across the globe as ‘crime of aggression’

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The global community has continued to condemn the United States (US) Government’s Gestapo airstrikes on Caracas, capital of Venezuela, and subsequent kidnap of sitting President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, and Cilia Flores, his wife, Saturday, January 3, 2026.

The US Commandos with a “Mafia method” of doing things in the early hours of Saturday, amid airstrikes on Caracas, backed by warplanes and a heavy naval deployment, forcefully kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their home in the capital.

The “Mafia method of doing things” has been described as “an operational style characterised by a strict hierarchical structure, a code of silence and loyalty, the use of violence and intimidation, and the infiltration of both illegal and legitimate businesses for profit and control.”

ConsumerConnect reports the United Nations (UN), and other world institutions and leaders widely condemned President Donald Trump administration’s action, described as a ‘crime of aggression’ against Venezuela, and other sovereign countries around the world.

The UN especially voiced a deep concern over the dramatic US Military operations and arrest of Maduro on “narco-terrorism” charges from Venezuela, and taking him and his wife to a prison in New York.

The global body also warned that it clearly undermined a fundamental principle of international law.

In her comments on the US illegitimate action, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokeswoman for the UN Rights Office, told reporters, in Geneva, Switzerland: “States must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,”

Shamdasani outrightly dismissed US justifications of the Venezuelan Government’s “longstanding and appalling human rights violations” for the raid, agency report said.

The UN Rights Office Spokesperson asserted: “Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law.’’

Shamdasani equally highlighted that the UN Rights Office had for a decade consistently reported on “the continued deterioration of the situation in Venezuela.”

She stated: “We fear that the current instability and further militarisation in the country, resulting from the US intervention, will only make the situation worse.”

NIIA: Trump jeopardising world order with ‘arrogance of power’

Following President Trump administration’s illegal invasion of Venezuela for the country’s oil wealth, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) shortly convened a special roundtable Tuesday, January 6, to dissect matters arising from US Military interventions in Venezuela.

It was gathered the panelists at the session, which held in the NIIA Conference Chamber, in Lagos, Nigeria, warned that the US exertion of force and arrest of President Maduro, and his wife was a clear violation of the UN Charter.

The experts said the American country had set a very dangerous precedence, and raised serious questions for the international order.

The NIIA event attracted policymakers, academics, and international relations experts to examine the legal, economic, and geopolitical dimensions of the US-Venezuelan crisis.

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, former Nigerian External Affairs Minister moderated the session while Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, Director-General of NIIA, led the dialogue.

Others are former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Joe Keshi, and Dr. Rita Agu of NIIA, Femi Ojumu, an international policy expert, Kayode Komolafe, a foreign policy expert, and Magnus Onyibe, a public policy analyst.

The forum also attracted panellists, including Professors Adele Jinadu, Femi Otubanjo, Remi Ajibewa.

Stating the US Government is creating a precarious precedent for other countries of the world, Prof.  Akinyemi , who doubles as the Chairman of NIIA, in the opening the session, emphasised the importance of analysing the crisis beyond individual leaders.

The former Minister opined that when powerful states act with impunity, global norms of sovereignty, immunity, and non-intervention are weakened, creating a precarious precedent for other nations.

Akinyemi also underlined the necessity for nation-states to develop self-reliance and robust governance systems to protect their sovereignty and citizens.

He, therefore, urged participants to distinguish between individual actions and structural forces in global politics.

According to him, crisis like Venezuela’s emerged from deeper international dynamics rather than the whims of a single actor.

The array of panelists as well frowned on what they described as Trump’s endorsement of the “philosophy of might” is right, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent with other powerful countries, including China, North Korea and Russia following suit.

The participants further emphasised the importance of respecting international law and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in domestic affairs of sovereign nation-states.

The panelists, however, agreed that the development in Venezuela is a lesson for other countries, especially African countries to properly manage their affairs, prioritise citizens’ welfare, and good governance to maintain their national sovereignty.

US action against Venezuela, a new form of imperialism -Prof. Osaghae

Prof. Osaghae, who led the dialogue among international affairs experts, interrogated whether the US actions in Venezuela signified a new form of imperialism.

The Director-General of NIIA emphasised that the global south, including Africa, is endangered by such forceful unilateral actions.

Osaghae dismissed the notion that geography and distance would prevent similar actions from happening in Africa, suggesting that imperialism could be both near and distant.

Advocating respect for international law and sovereignty, Osaghae noted: “What is happening is sending shockwaves around the world and people are asking us some questions on what is going on? Is it a new form of imperialism?

The NIIA Chief also asserted: “From the point of view of the African Union, those of us in Africa and the rest of the global South, there are lapses.

“We are also being endangered because anything can happen to any of us.”

Keshi: Trump jeopardising world order

In his contribution to the dialogue, Amb. Joe Keshi observed the United States is known for double standards in international relations.

Keshi said the US now violates the laws it has helped to write, and has a history of interventionism.

He equally contended that the United States has grown too powerful and emboldened, with other countries dependent on it.

This development has led to a lack of accountability on the part of the American country.

Keshi, however, emphasised the importance of countries to develop their own capacity and capability to defend themselves, rather than relying on others.

He stated: “The truth remains that as of today, nobody can stop the United States, except all countries of the world decide that they are going to quietly build up their capacity and capability so that collectively, they can deter the operations of the United States.

Positing that Trump’s action was an arrogance of power, Prof. Jinadu also stressed the pressing need for the Third World countries, including Nigeria, to enhance their solidarity and create a third neutral force in the world order to counterbalance the existing power dynamics.

Jinadu advocated the strengthening the BRICS, and reviving the idea of a Concert of Medium Powers to promote a more equitable global order.

He urged the democratisation of the UN Security Council (UNSC) by limiting the use of veto power, which he said stifles the aspirations and demands of the Third World in global affairs.

US Military brigandage signals s collapse of rationality, says Otubanjo

Speaking at the dialogue also, Prof. Otubanjo criticised the US foreign policy under President Trump.

The expert argued that it has become irrational and driven by domestic politics.

Otubanjo equally

highlighted the strategic importance of oil wealth in the US-Venezuela conflict.

According to him, the US is seeking to regain control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.

Otubanjo noted that the US actions against Venezuela have global implications, including the potential to undermine the petrodollar, and challenge the existing global economic order.

Badenoch: Venezuela’s raid to remove Maduro morally right

Meanwhile, Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch, who is Conservative Leader in the United Kingdom (UK), has defended the US’ military operation that removed Venezuelan President Maduro from power.

Badenoch described the early morning raid on Caracas to kidnap Maduro and whisk him away to New York as “morally right”, despite legal and diplomatic controversy surrounding the move.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Tuesday this week, she reportedly said though she did not fully understand the legal basis for the operation, Maduro was overseeing a “brutal regime,” and she was “glad he’s gone.”

“Where the legal certainty is not yet clear, morally, I do think it was the right thing to do.’’

Badenoch again, recalled how her childhood in Nigeria under military dictatorships gave her insight into life under authoritarian rule.

The Conservative Leader stated: “I grew up under a military dictatorship, so I know what it’s like to have someone like Maduro in charge.”

Badenoch, nonetheless, cautioned that the US invasion of Venezuela raised “serious questions about the rules-based order.”

According to her, the raid was different from interventions in democratic countries around the world.

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