Granting asylum to Biafrans disrespects Nigeria___Lai Mohammed confronts UK
The Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has described the granting of asylum to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra as disrespectful to Nigerian sovereignty
The Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has described the granting of asylum to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra as disrespectful to Nigerian sovereignty.
Speaking in an interview, he said such a move would sabotage Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and undermine its security on Tuesday.
“As the spokesman for the Federal Government of Nigeria, I will say that if indeed the report that the UK will grant asylum to supposedly persecuted IPOB and MASSOB members is true, then something is wrong somewhere.
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“Against the background of the fact that IPOB is not only proscribed but also designated as a terrorist organisation here in Nigeria, the UK’s decision is disrespectful of Nigeria as a nation.
“The decision amounts to sabotaging the fight against terrorism and generally undermining Nigeria’s security. It is not only unconscionable, but it is also inexplicable,’’ he said.
“If we could go down the memory lane, what the UK has done is like Nigeria offering asylum to members of the IRA before the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement.”
This, however, is coming following the release of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) new guidelines on how to consider and grant asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist groups.
