Asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

IPOB was formed in 2012 by Nnamdi Kanu and is believed to be an offshoot of MASSOB, which was founded in 1999 by Ralph Uwazuruike.

Both are campaigning for the secession of mainly the south-east but also several other ethnic nationalities from Nigeria.

In the just-released ‘Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups’ seen by TheCable, the UKVI, a division of the Home Office, 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”.

According to the guidelines, the decision makers “must also consider if the [Nigerian] government’s actions are acts of prosecution, not persecution. Those fleeing prosecution or punishment for a criminal offence are not normally refugees. Prosecution may, however, amount to persecution if it involves victimisation in its application by the authorities”.

An example of persecution, the UKVI said, is “if it is the vehicle or excuse for or if only certain groups are prosecuted for a particular offence and the consequences of that discrimination are sufficiently severe. Punishment which is cruel, inhuman or degrading (including punishment which is out of all proportion to the offence committed) may also amount to persecution”.

They are also to “consider each case on its facts to determine if the person is likely to be of interest to the [Nigerian] government and whether this is for the legitimate grounds of prosecution which is proportionate and non-discriminatory”.

BURDEN OF PROOF

The onus is on the applicants to demonstrate that they will be “at risk of persecution or serious harm” in Nigeria, according to the guidelines.

In particular, the decision makers are to consider each case on its facts, taking into account:


profile, size, and organisation of the group/organisation to which the person belongs and its activities
whether a person in the UK would wish to continue their activism if returned to Nigeria (if not, why not)
whether the group/organisation has a presence in Nigeria as well as outside of the country and any evidence that it is being monitored by the government
person’s profile and political activities (including those online) and relevant documentary or other evidence
profile and activities of family members
past treatment.

The UK acknowledges that the Nigerian government has a responsibility to maintain law and order, “to prevent and protect the public against acts of violence”.

It said where supporters or members of MASSOB or IPOB “have incited or used violence to disrupt public order, the government may have legitimate grounds to arrest and prosecute those people”.

“However, where the government has arrested and detained persons who, for example, peacefully participate in demonstrations and has then charged them with treason or the person is subjected to periods of detention in degrading or inhuman conditions, such treatment is unlikely to be fair or proportionate, and is likely to amount to persecution,” the guidelines noted.

The UK defines ‘Biafra’ as an area “in the south-east of Nigeria that comprises the states of Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra. The area is inhabited principally by Igbo (Ibo) people who are one of the country’s 3 largest ethnic groups”.


EVIDENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS APPLICATIONS

The UK, which is a signatory to several human rights and refugee conventions, believes Biafran secessionist agitations are covered by one or more of the following policies:

A person is reasonably likely to face a real risk of persecution or serious harm
The general humanitarian situation is so severe as to breach Article 15(b) of European Council Directive 2004/83/EC (the Qualification Directive)/Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights as transposed in paragraph 339C and 339CA(iii) of the Immigration Rules
The security situation presents a real risk to a civilian’s life or person such that it would breach Article 15(c) of the Qualification Directive as transposed in paragraph 339C and 339CA(iv) of the Immigration Rules
A person is able to obtain protection from the state (or quasi state bodies)
A person is reasonably able to relocate within a country or territory
A claim is likely to justify granting asylum, humanitarian protection or other form of leave, and
If a claim is refused, it is likely or unlikely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
However, decision makers are directly to still consider all claims on an individual basis, taking into account each case’s specific facts.

TheCable has contacted the Nigerian government for comment.

Resurrection212:
Ipob with fake news. The same British that almost finished you during the civil war is now want to give you asylum.

Resurrection212:
Ipob with fake news. The same British that almost finished you during the civil war is now want to give you asylum.

Resurrection212:
Ipob with fake news. The same British that almost finished you during the civil war is now want to give you asylum.

Assessment
Updated: 18 March 2021
1. Introduction
1.1 Basis of claim
1.1.1 Fear of persecution and/or serious harm by state actors because the person
is a member of or perceived to belong to a Biafran separatist group.
1.2 Points to note
1.2.1 There are reported to be several groups aiming for the secession of Biafra.
This Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) focuses on the 2 main
groups, which are:
• the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB)
• Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
1.2.2 Where a claim is refused, it must be considered for certification under
section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 as Nigeria is
listed as a designated state in respect of men only.
1.2.3 For information on certification, see the instruction on Certification of
protection and human rights claims under section 94 of the Nationality,
Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (clearly unfounded claims).
Back to Contents
2. Consideration of issues
2.1 Credibility
2.1.1 For information on assessing credibility, see the instruction on Assessing
Credibility and Refugee Status.
2.1.2 Decision makers must also check if there has been a previous application for
a UK visa or another form of leave. Asylum applications matched to visas
should be investigated prior to the asylum interview (see the Asylum
Instruction on Visa Matches, Asylum Claims from UK Visa Applicants).
2.1.3 Decision makers should also consider the need to conduct language
analysis testing (see the Asylum Instruction on Language Analysis)

Amotolongbo:




https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-uk-to-grant-asylum-to-persecuted-ipob-massob-members

RisingSun1:
Old News!

Ever since the renewed struggle for Biafra republic championed by MNK began in 2013 till today, ipob Members in Europe and America without papers are being granted asylum in countries like UK, Germany, Canada, Turkey, Australia etc

In fact there are some cases in Germany and Turkey where Yorubas and Binis are claiming to be IPOB to collect asylum.

OdumegwuOjukwu:




https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974875/NGA_-Biafran_secessionist_groups_-_CPIN.pdf

Google is your friend

Nigeriabiafra82:
[/b]

Even seun will claim ipob because of visa

The UK defines ‘Biafra’ as an area “in the south-east of Nigeria that comprises the states of Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra. The area is inhabited principally by Igbo (Ibo) people who are one of the country’s 3 largest ethnic groups”.

Bkayyy:
These British people are more "Cunnier" than I thought. That is if there is anything like "Cunnier". Just don't know how to qualify their sly ways.
So when our children will be reading about our history they will see "Britain first granted asylum to your persecuted father's before freedom"
Chai! Oh God.
Now shameless Afonjas will start claiming IPOB

thebosstrevor1:
100%, this is FAKENEWS

Tranquillity360:
This Aboki is still in pain