TheCable

The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has made a U-turn on its treatment of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after finally recognising Nigeria’s classification of the group as a terrorist organisation. 

In a May 2022 update of its asylum policy, seen by TheCable, the UK government excluded “violent” members of the group from seeking refuge in England.

Although this does not amount to the UK designing IPOB as a terrorist group, the shift in position is significant.

TheCable had reported in April 2021 that the UK was planning to grant asylum to persecuted members of the separatist group, as part of its refugee policy published at the time.

The policy, at the time, was for asylum to be granted to “persecuted” members of IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

The UKVI, a division of the Home Office, directed its decision makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution”.

If the person can prove persecution, then the IPOB member or supporter could be granted asylum.

UKVI TAKES DOWN POLICY NOTES

A few days after the policy notes were published, the UK government took them down following complaints from the Nigerian government.

In July 2021, an updated policy on asylum was seen by TheCable with no clear mention of IPOB, but more emphasis on Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram’s onslaught.

The UK said at the time that it would offer protection to “women, LGBTI persons and non-indigenes” who “may face additional discrimination which prevents them from being able to access effective protection”.

The UK government said Nigerians could now claim asylum in the UK if they face “fear of persecution and/or serious harm by members of Boko Haram because of” their “actual or perceived opposition to the group”.

UKVI RECOGNISES IPOB AS TERRORIST ORGANISATION

In its May 2022 policy update seen by TheCable, UKVI referred to IPOB as a Nigeria-designated terrorist organisation to be excluded from its asylum programme over alleged links to violence in the south-east.

“IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria,” UKVI said in its policy notes.

It added that “MASSOB has been banned, but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. It too has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities”.

UKVI went on to tell its decision makers that “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,” the UK added.

The policy brief noted that anyone excluded in this manner is also “excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection”.

UKVI also advised that “decision makers must, however, still consider all claims on an individual basis, taking into account each case’s specific facts”.

Since the last update in July 2021, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB and a UK citizen, has been in the custody of the Nigerian government on the grounds of allegations, including treason.

In its 2022 new year message, the group said the Nigerian national anthem will no longer be sung across schools in the southeast.

Suspected IPOB members were also recently killed by the Nigerian Army in a gun battle on Orlu–Orsu road in April.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated for clarity. Previously, the UK did not recognise Nigeria’s designation of IPOB as a terrorist group but has now amended its policy to allow members of the group “involved in violence” to be excluded from the asylum scheme.