The UK Government has recognized the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian Government, therefore, barring its members and other related secessionist groups from asylum.
Uk Visa and Immigration disclosed this in an updated policy published in May titled: Country policy and information note: separatist groups in the South-East, Nigeria.
“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.
“Through its online platform, ‘Radio Biafra’, and other social media, IPOB has increasingly used inflammatory rhetoric to encourage secessionist aspirations and resistance to the authorities, including violence.
“Therefore, 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.”
IPOB has been fingered to be spearheading violent attacks on individuals, security agencies, and public/private properties in southeastern parts of Nigeria.
Its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently held in the Department of State (DSS) custody as he faces terrorism charges.
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