IPOB's DESIGNATION AS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION AND THE SHAME OF A PREJUDICED AND JAUNDICED REPORTING

One of the strangest news I read today was the designation of IPOB as a terrorist group by the UK. It got to my notice as I saw some share it with an unmistakable "I told you" glee. Checking online, as really expected not to miss such development, was virtually all Nigerian media outfits with that news and headline. With all of them screaming the same thing, you are left with the impression that it must be true. Going ahead to read the actual news item, I felt sad; not sad that IPOB was designated a terrorist group by a very notable foreign power, but that virtually all Nigerian media outfits could be sucked into this level of gross disinformation.

This is the line under which they ran to town that the British government has designated IPOB a terrorist organisation: "IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government..."

You would really think there is more than just this until you read their entire articles and find absolutely nothing more. The question to ask is if the UK recognises a group as a terrorist group by the designation of that group as a terrorist group by another country or by her own designation? This is what the UK's terrorism act says:
"The Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism, both in and outside of the UK, as the use or threat of one or more of the actions listed below, and where they are designed to influence the government, or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public. The use or threat must also be for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
"The specific actions included are: serious violence against a person; serious damage to property; endangering a person's life (other than that of the person committing the action); creating a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public; and action designed to seriously interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system. The use or threat of action, as set out above, which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism regardless of whether or not the action is designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public. Action includes action outside the United Kingdom.
"It is important to note that in order to be convicted of a terrorism offence a person doesn't actually have to commit what could be considered a terrorist attack. Planning, assisting and even collecting information on how to commit terrorist acts are all crimes under British terrorism legislation."

https://www.cps.gov.uk/crime-info/terrorism

So, this same UK government, in her laws on terrorism has this to say more:
"The maximum penalty for the following offences will increase from 10 to 14 years
• Membership of a proscribed organisation
• Supporting a proscribed organisation
• Attending a place used for terrorist training"

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/longer-jail-terms-and-stricter-monitoring-as-new-terror-laws-gain-royal-assent

So, we see clearly that, not only does UK have her proper definition of what terrorism is, and which is not limited to UK soil, she also has prison terms for membership of terror groups, sponsorship of terror groups and being seen where trainings are conducted by such groups. With this, it should become so obvious that, not only would any member of a terrorist group not be welcome in UK, such a person when found in UK is surely on his way to prison. With all these, how then do we reconcile the following from the UK government if indeed they have designated IPOB as a terrorist organisation as Nigerian media houses claim? Read the UK government specifically on IPOB and MASSOB on asylum seeking:

"ASSESSMENT UPDATED: 16 March 2022
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 or supporter of, or perceived to belong to, a group that supports a separate state of ‘Biafra’.
1.2.3 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)
1.2.4 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.
1.2.5 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).
2.2.3 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."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nigeria-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-separatist-groups-in-the-south-east-nigeria-march-2022-accessible

Are you getting it? Asylum is open to IPOB members! We just read that IPOB and MASSOB members can seek for asylum in UK. However, each application would be treated on individual basis. Any individual that is found to have committed acts that makes him unqualified for asylum would be denied. This is nothing but an official exoneration of the group as a terrorist organisation; if it is not, well, you have to tell me how the UK that imprisons folks for association with terror groups will open up for IPOB to receive asylum in the same UK. This is just the UK saying, "While we recognise that IPOB is not a terror group, we do recognise that her members may commit crimes and we won't allow such ones escape punishment for crimes they commit by an asylum in the UK."

What about this should be causing excitement? That Britain corrected herself from an umbrella provision of asylum to an individual consideration of asylum? Should the tales of "reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria" that made them opt for a more cautious approach in reconsidering an umbrella provision of asylum for the group be skewed to mean a designation of terrorists' status for IPOB?

It should be noted that this document on asylum by UK is specifically for issues related to the Biafra agitation. It is not a comprehensive asylum document for all asylum seekers from all countries. So, the portion of the document that read, "EXCLUSION", was simply detailing under what reasons Biafra agitators should be denied asylum. In opening that section, it referenced IPOB's designation as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government and MASSOB's ban by the Nigerian government, referenced some articles on Nigerian papers on skirmishes between IPOB and the government and then went on to prescribe an individual-based consideration for members of IPOB or MASSOB seeking asylum rather than the initial umbrella provision the UK government granted the group.

I can't still believe what just happened with this news of UK designating IPOB as a terrorist organisation. Is this severe hatred for the group, IPOB; or hatred for anything Biafra? How come all Nigerian media went for this sort of disinformation? And that some people were gleefully sharing makes it sadder! My take: This is nothing but ignorance at its height or mischief at its depth; or probably a hybrid of the two... mischievorance!

[Note: Ikechukwu Nwasouka Eluigwe is not a member of IPOB.]

IPOB, ESN, Nnamdi Kanu and his collaborators have always been terrorists.
Everybody knows. Anyone who encourages the killing of the innocent in Igbo land is also a terrorist.

U tell Ndi-Igbo to boycott election and not vote, how then will our voices be heard?

Even the so-called REFERENDUM they are talking about, they don't even know the processes for that. It simply means.. (A VOTE on a proposed law or constitutional ammendment).
Without ur PVCs, how would that happen?

U tell people to sit at home, meanwhile we have Ndi-Igbo in the markets (fathers, mothers), business people who if they don't sell daily, they can't feed their families. How will they survive?

Business men & women who come from all over Nigeria to Patronize Ariaria Int'l Market Aba, Onitcha Main market, etc, now stop for their transactions in Asaba. Chai!

The rich men IPOB/ESN are enviously targeting are still our self-made Igbo brothers who toiled very hard for their money. Now they are successful & employers of labour. But u kidnap & chase them away, who then will employ us?

...You sideline and destroy properties of our Igbo Politicians, Senators, Governors,etc, who then will speak for us in Abuja?

.... You attack the police securing the community, who then will protect us against your kidnappings, robbery, murder, crime?
Odinma biko nu?

....Ralph Uwazuruike after pioneering MASSOB in the early 2000s, dashing the hopes for Igbo presidency, messing up the census exercise for Ndi-Igbo now openly supports an outsider Yahaya Bellow for President...Chai! How then do we get to the Federal?

...Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB, ESN, whatever Ekpa & his autopiloters are spoilers who are sponsored by enemies of Ndi-igbo who want us to kill ourselves, if we allow this to happen how then do we thrive as a people?
Chineke ekwela!!!

The only solution to IPOB is total annihilation!

All IPOB/ESN/Autopiloters and their supporters are MUST DIE!
That's the only solution for Ala-Igbo to be well again.
Just look at the fraudster below. Fool!