Adelani Adepegba and Edward Nnachi

The United Kingdom has said that all asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with its international obligations.
The British government states that it has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with its international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights.

The British High Commission stated this on Wednesday, in response to inquiries by The PUNCH on the Federal Government’s allegations that the UK’s asylum offer for persecuted members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra undermined Nigeria’s security.

The UK Visas and Immigration had released new guidelines to its decision makers on how to consider and grant asylum applications to IPOB members whose founder, Nnamdi Kanu, is operating from London.
Kanu, who holds both Nigerian and British passports, fled Nigeria in 2018 after troops invaded his country home while he was facing trial on treasonable felony charges for criminal conspiracy, intimidation and membership of an illegal organisation.
In the guidelines titled, ‘Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups,’ released in March, 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.’’
It further said the UK must also consider if the arrest and prosecution of IPOB members for clamouring for the break-up of the country were 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,’’ the 56-page document noted.
But the Federal Government frowned on the UK immigration guidelines, describing them as support for terrorism.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said that the decision was disrespectful, noted that it amounted to sabotaging the fight against terrorism and generally undermining Nigeria’s security.
The enquiry The PUNCH sent to the high commission stated, “Following the release of the Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups, in March by the UKVI, the Nigerian Government has declared this as an act of sabotage. It also accused the UK of supporting terrorism. What’s the reaction of the high commission to these weighty allegations?”
Responding to the allegations by the Federal Government, the British High Commission in an apparent rebuff, said the UK had a proud history of providing protection to those who needed it.
The emailed statement read,” The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights.

“Our country policy and information notes are published on the gov.uk website. They are kept under constant review and updated periodically – an update to the Biafra separatist note is expected shortly. We publish them since our decisions can be appealed in the immigration courts, which are public, so it is clearer and fairer for all involved (applicants, their lawyers, judges, stakeholders such as the UNHCR) to know what our position and evidence base is.

“All asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.”

Meanwhile, prominent Igbo groups under the auspices of World Igbo Youth Congress and South-East Women Professionals, have supported the UK’s offer of asylum for persecuted IPOB and MASSOB members.

The President-General, World Igbo Youth Congress, Chief Alex Okemiri and the President, South-East Women Professionals, Dr. Helen Ogbonnaya, stated this in separate telephone interviews with one of our correspondents, in Abakaliki, on Wednesday.
Okemiri stated “Most youths are revolting against the faulty foundation of Nigeria. The Federal Government should address the issues that brought up these agitations, especially through respecting the principles of federal character, which has been abused.

“The declaration of the UK Visa for IPOB and MASSOB members has contradicted the falsehoods being presented by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the international community, about Biafra agitators.

“World Igbo Youth Congress urges IPOB and MASSOB members to take the opportunity offered by UK Embassy to save their lives; they should flee from persecution and continue the peaceful, but non violent agitations.

“The UK Visa and Immigration’s procedure had ended the wrong motion labelled wrongly against these secessionist groups, as terrorist organisations.”

Corroborating the WIYC, the President of SWP, Ogbonnaya, said the asylum granted to the groups’ members was a practical step at showing that persecution against self-determination was sheer violation of human rights in Nigeria.

Ogbonnaya said, “We, the South-East Women Professionals describe the asylum to IPOB and MASSOB by the UK government, as practical steps to ensure that the persecution meted out towards self-determination is a gross violation of human rights.

“The Federal Government should deploy carrot and stick policy of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to end the secessionist agitation in the South-East.
“South-East Women Professionals call on Buhari’s government to embrace dialogue with Biafra agitators.”

https://punchng.com/ipob-massob-asylum-offer-to-protect-those-who-need-it-uk-replies-federal-govt/

A

FG should just keep shut... If they had handled IPOB the right way things won't degenerate to this level

UK is doing everything to prevent another Biafra genocide that can cause a major humanitarian crisis

Hotshisha:
FG should just keep shut... If they had handled IPOB the right way things won't degenerate to this level

UK is doing everything to prevent another Biafra genocide that can cause a major humanitarian crisis

Exactly. Allow the FG to keep weeping. Technically, the bokoharam leader maybe enjoying asylum cos the FG aren't even making any effort to get him to justice. The quantity of tears falling off those corrupt men eyes who call themselves FG due to this decision by the UK, maybe used for irrigation purpose up north.

That government is crazy. They have amnesty to BH terrorists and even sent some abroad while they are crying over asylum to non-violent group. People in that useless country are just daft especially they idiots ruling .

Jubrin labelled them as 5 percent despite failing elementary school, projects are being taken away from them and put in the North, military and police checkpoints everywhere despite little unrest in the region whereas in the boiling North you hardly witness such. Foolish dullard

Hotshisha:
FG should just keep shut... If they had handled IPOB the right way things won't degenerate to this level

UK is doing everything to prevent another Biafra genocide that can cause a major humanitarian crisis

U.K. is only doing it to their benefit. They do not want the country to disintegrate.

If Nigeria disintegrates which part of Nigeria would pay back the debt? Biafra , oduduwa republic or northern Nigeria?

Northern Nigeria is not economically viable that’s why they’re trying to force themselves to the south.

Federal Govt can retaliate by giving IRA members asylum, , that is if IRA will not consider it an attack against it. Nigeria's FG is a toothless and barkless ekuke, that can only whine with the help Mumuric and lying master Mohammed while showcasing Patanmi as the poster boy of a terror government. Britain just showed the world who the real terrorists are in Nigeria. What a shame to this government.

The federal government can't do shit. Useless country.

Wooow

Always bothered about Igbo affairs yet reward Boko Haram and pay bandits millions without complaints. They think the world is not watching. More to come!

saintokwuluora:
Federal Govt can retaliate by giving IRA members asylum, , that is if IRA will not consider it an attack against it. Nigeria's FG is a toothless and barkless ekuke, that can only whine with the help Mumuric and lying master Mohammed while showcasing Patanmi as the poster boy of a terror government. Britain just showed the world who the real terrorists are in Nigeria. What a shame to this government.

As it stands today, the only country Nigeria can sanction is Benin Republic. And that's by closing Nigerias borders to their smuggling activities. Apart from that country, Nigeria is as toothless as they come, and can easily be outplayed by most countries including her smaller neighbors.. Nigeria tried this "sanctions" tactics during the period the borders were closed for more than a year and these neighboring countries shook it off because Nigeria is so badly managed and governed, she can't put her acts together. There used to be a time when Nigerias military might gave neighboring countries reasons to worry. Boko Haram opened Nigerias nyansh. Nobody is afraid of a ragtag army that only bullies civilians anymore..

Hehehe.

Truth is that the UK is shifting alliance away from Nigeria to Biafra. By now it should be clear to those with eyes that Biafra is so close at hands. Ok, let's agree that UK is being honest when it says that they're giving the asylum to those in need. Tell your self the truth, between Igbos and Shiites, which group needs it most. What about the Southern Kaduna people?

Believe it or not, UK knows what it is doing. And that's trying to win itself to Biafra.

Great

FGN is BH sponsor. Uk and the World knows it.

I dont trust the UK, they can change their position tomorrow when they are threatened with anything that affects their economy. Their economy is propped up by sleaze funds and inflows from Muslim nations and corrupt countries like Nigeria. Anyone noticed that the UK government is now been controlled by Islamist?

Ok

Noted

E go pain some people

Interesting! I support Biafra actualization but I do not want any violence, I do not want any destruction of lives and properties.

BY THE GRACE OF THE MOST HIGH GOD ELOHIM BIAFRA WOULD BE ACTUALIZED PEACEFULLY, JOYFULLY AND VERY SOON.

PLEASE, Is the FG & AREWA not MAD?
You don't want the Igbos...
They are negligible.
Yet the same Igbos want to Leave and you say NO.
They want a Referendum to determine their next move, democratically and Legitimately, you said NO.

You keep saying the IGBOS will suffer heavy blows more than other tribes should they leave, dey said don't worry let's suffer all the PLAGUES of Egypt alone & you said NO.

The same Rejected IGBOS are being offered ASYLUM & called up by the UK Government for all the Ill treatments meted, u suddenly bcom angry with the UK for granting such to same rejected people.

Is this how you Guys love & Cherish same IGBOS?
Even Ruminants wouldn't act this way.
Please are you Guys normal at all?
Please, ain't you all MAD?

hmmm

.