The United Kingdom (UK) has officially recognised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and declared that its members should not be granted asylum. ICIR reports.

This was contained in the UK Government May 2022 updated Asylum Policy issued by its Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Department. Information Guide Nigeria

The UK noted that IPOB has been linked to violence in the South-East.

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“IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria (see Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’ (IPOB) and various media articles in Activities and Clashes between state and IPOB),” the UKVI policy read.

IPOB is a secessionist group seeking the breakaway of the territories of the defunct Republic of Biafra from Nigeria. jamb results

The group was declared a terrorist group by a Federal High Court in Abuja in September 2017.

Like IPOB, the UK government also excluded another separatist group, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) from its Asylum Policy.

It noted that although MASSOB has been banned in Nigeria, it is not a proscribed terrorist group, but it has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the Nigerian authorities.

“If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision-makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable. Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum.

“If the person is excluded from the Refugee Convention, they will also be excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection,” the UK government said.

This is in contrast with the UK decision on Asylum Policy for IPOB members in April 2021, when it announced that asylum would be granted to the pro-Biafra agitators.

The UK government’s decision was criticised by the Nigerian government, which declared IPOB a terrorist organisation.

Minister of Information Lai Mohammed described the UK’s earlier Asylum Policy as sabotage to Nigeria’s war against terrorism.

“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 of Nigeria as a nation.