The Nigerian government has sought to disagree with the plan decided by the United Kingdom to grant asylum to alleged persecuted members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed made this known while speaking to the new Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today, describing the action of the UK government as sabotage and disrespect to the Nigerian government and also undermining its National security.
The Minister said the issue has fallen within the mandate of the Nigerian foreign Affairs Minister whom he believed is capable of handling the matter.
Mohammed said, “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.
He explained that “Against the background of the fact that IPOB is not only proscribed but also designated as a terrorist organization here in Nigeria, the UK’s decision is disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation.
The Minister said the action of the UK government is tantamount to sabotaging the Nigerian government war on terror, and general undermining of the Nigerian security by a supposed partner in progress.
He revealed that the recent attack targeting the Nigerian forces in the southeast was confirmed to be the handwork of the same IPOB the UK government is seeking to shield.
Mr. Mohammed said for a UK government to deliberately take that path in shielding the Nigerian enemy calls for questioning.
The minister described the action as “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,’’
Accordingly, it was learned that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) release new guidelines to its plan decision to consider asylum to the application from Biafra terrorist group.
Such that, Asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members IPOB and MASSOB.