UK govt pulls down policy granting asylum to IPOB members

The United Kingdom (UK) had pulled down its asylum policy in relation to the separatist pro Biafra group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other Biafra splinter groups.

The was contained in an e-mailed statement, in which the UK Home Office  said the policy is being reviewed and will be uploaded once ready.

The email reads: “Our country policy and information notes are published on the gov.uk website. They are kept under review and updated periodically.

“We publish our notes as our decisions on protection claims can be appealed to the public immigration courts, so it is clearer and fairer to all involved (applicants, their lawyers, judges, stakeholders such as the UNHCR) to know what our position and evidence base is.

“Our note on Biafra separatists has been taken down for review; an update is expected shortly”.

Recall the Federal Government had lambasted the UK, saying the reported decision of the British government to grant asylum to “persecuted” members of the IPOB is disrespectful of Nigeria as a nation.

Recall the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) had released new guidelines to its decision makers on how to consider and grant asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist groups.

In the guidelines, asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members IPOB, a group that Nigeria had designated as a terrorist organisation.

Also in the guidelines, asylum is to be granted to the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).