According to a report by Reuters on Tuesday 6 January, 2026, Venezuela’s government has ordered security forces to track down and detain anyone suspected of backing what it calls a U.S. military attack that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, according to a decree released this week.
The measure is part of a nationwide state of emergency declared after the strikes. While the order itself has technically been in effect since Saturday, authorities only made the full text public on Monday, giving a clearer picture of how broadly the government intends to apply it.
At the center of the decree is a sweeping directive to law enforcement. Police and other security bodies are told to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,” language that signals little tolerance for dissent or ambiguity.
And the timing matters. In Caracas, pro-government demonstrations have continued, with crowds taking to the streets in support of Maduro and calling for his release after his reported capture alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. The government’s messaging has framed the situation as a matter of national defense, rather than politics, a distinction it has leaned on before.
The publication of the decree adds weight to what was already a tense atmosphere. By formally spelling out the powers granted under the emergency, officials appear to be warning both political opponents and ordinary citizens that expressions of support for the U.S. action could carry serious consequences.
If you love political news or like to get more news happening around the globe, use the button below to get more verified news happening around Nigeria and the world today.
Leave a Reply