The United Kingdom has debunked news reports that it has branded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.
The British High Commission in Abuja, made the clarification in a statement on Friday night.
“We are aware of inaccurate reporting circulating in the media and online that the UK Government has added the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the UK’s list of terrorist groups or organisations banned under UK law”
“These reports are untrue. The ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’ (IPOB) is not a proscribed organisation in the UK.
“The inaccurate reporting relates to the 13 April 2022 publication by the UK Government of a revised Country Policy and Information note (CPIN) on separatist groups in SE Nigeria, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“CPINs provide country of origin information (COI) and analysis of COI for use by UK Government decision-makers handling particular types of protection and human rights claims.
“All asylum and human rights claims made in the UK are considered on their individual facts in accordance with our obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights, taking into account relevant background country information and case law.
Please see our statement, which clarifies the UK Government's position in response to some inaccurate reporting in circulation today. pic.twitter.com/pPou7SxQ9S
— UK in Nigeria🇬🇧🇳🇬 (@UKinNigeria) May 6, 2022
However, shortly after the UK mission issued the statement, the Nigerian government, relying on the apparently inaccurate report of the UK prescribing IPOB as a terrorist group, released a statement welcoming the decision.
“Nigeria welcomes the decision by the United Kingdom to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group,” a tweet from the official Nigerian government twitter handle read.
“The violent secessionist organisation has long been proscribed as such in Nigeria where it carries out the majority of its murderous activities.”
