The first weekend of 2026 took a dramatic turn as President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a move met with swift and severe condemnation from global leaders.

Global leaders have questioned the provisions of international law and the legality of the United States invading a sovereign state to capture a sitting president under the guise of restoring democracy.

On Wednesday, another update broke the internet as Trump announced that the U.S. will be getting 50 million oil barrels from the Venezuelan Interim Authority.

Trump, in a Tuesday statement U.S time zone, via his official Truth account, stated that he had ordered the Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute plans to get the Venezuelan oil.

The Venezuelan parliament sworn in Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, two days after US forces seized her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, to face trial bordering on terrorism and narcotics in New York.

Rodriguez, during her inauguration, indicated that she would cooperate with Washington, taking the oath of office at the National Assembly and telling lawmakers she did so “in the name of all Venezuelans.”

Since the announcement, a heated debate has erupted across Nigerian social media platforms, particularly X, regarding the U.S. action and the underlying interests driving the intervention.

While some welcomed the development, others rejected, citing sovereignty and the provisions of international law.

Some argued that the capture of Maduro is a “lesson for African dictators” and a necessary step for global democracy.

Nigerians weigh the cost of Western intervention as the U.S. demanded that the new interim authorities in Caracas “repay” the U.S. with 50 million barrels of crude oil.

@tonyajah supported the invasion, saying, “Venezuelans are happy for the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the US. But people in Nigeria, bedevilled by insecurity, are angry at Trump‘s intervention. Make it make sense.”
@udo_ski also supported the invasion, saying, “Congratulations to Venezuelans. This is the president who knows exactly what he’s doing. He has said the money generated from these oil will be used for the good people of Venezuela who have been held hostage for years by the self acclaimed drúgl0rd president. Venezuelans will start seeing an economic boom henceforth.”

Other critics, however, point to the 50-million-barrel demand as proof that the intervention is purely about energy resources rather than human rights, sparking “anti-imperialist” debates.

@Dannymasterp wrote “Accusing a man with a Sovereign immune for trafficking drug just to take over they economy is purely injustice and manipulation at the highest Order. Nothing can justify the reckless actions of the United States to control the economy of the people of Venezuela.”
@MaRyAm_MuKtAr wrote, “Ikon Allah, this is his plan for Nigeria also, and gullible fools were shouting come and save us, no impact has been made to the Venezuelan people since the abduction of their president, I’m not saying the president was doing a good job, but at least he wasn’t exploiting a forging land of it’s natural resources.”
@thekanoblog wrote, “The wealth of Venezuela belongs solely to its people. Any attempt to plunder it or transfer it to another country is nothing but the theft of public assets, a crime that must be punished.”
@its_MDee wrote, “He’s finally getting what he’s after, now let’s see how he controls $2 billion on behalf of the Venezuelans. Hope my people are following???”
@kabiruveratti wrote, “It seems Donald Trump’s main goal is to make other countries bow to the US and pay taxes. Just like an emperor, he claims Maduro is a dictator, but he is equally a dictator to the whole world, bar Russia and China.
@MFaarees_  wrote, “Venezuela is a Christian majority country, yet Trump is bombing them without thinking twice, and this same Trump is telling the world that he will invade Nigeria guns-a-blazing to save Christians, and yet some idiots trust him. It’s always politics, they don’t care about you!”

TVC News previously reported that following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered the newly inaugurated interim authorities in Venezuela to turn over 50 million barrels of oil to the United States.

Trump also boasted that the proceeds of the Venezuela oil will be solely controlled by him.