In the just-released Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups, the United Kingdom Visa and Immigration department has directed its decision-makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution”.
The particular report which was published by TheCable did not seat well with the Nigerian government who condemned the decision saying that it was a disrespect to Nigeria.
The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has been in the fight to make Biafra a sovereign nation.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview program on Tuesday, the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed stated that it was sabotage on the fight against terrorism and also undermining the country’s security.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the issue is within the purview of the Foreign Affairs Minister whom he believes will handle it appropriately.
He also cited the heightened attacks against security agencies in the South East, pointing out that the IPOB members might be the masterminds of the attack.
He was quoted by Daily Post saying below;
“As the spokesman for the Federal Government of Nigeria, I will say that if indeed the report that the UK will grant asylum to supposedly persecuted IPand decision-makers MASSOB members is true, then something is wrong somewhere.
“Against the background of the fact that IPOB is not only proscribed but also designated as a terrorist organisation here in Nigeria, the UK’s decision is disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation.
“The decision amounts to sabotaging the fight against terrorism and generally undermining Nigeria’s security. It is not only unconscionable, but it is also inexplicable,’’ he said.
“If we could go down the memory lane, what the UK has done is like Nigeria offering asylum to members of the IRA before the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement,’’ he said.
Asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members IPOB and MASSOB.
Source: Dailypostin
just-released
