Nigerians have reacted to the news that the UK government has designated the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group on social media.
The administration of Boris Johnson made this clear in an updated policy statement on asylum published on the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) website.
The policy, which was amended in May 2022, states that it supports the Nigerian government’s designation of IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as terrorist groups.
BIAFRA AGITATION: Finally, UK Recognizes IPOB As A Terrorist Organization
IPOB and ESN, led by the arrested Nnamdi Kanu, have also been blamed by the UK government for rising violence and human rights violations in the country’s southeast, with visa officials ordering members of the group to be excluded from the country’s asylum program.
Despite the blanket exclusion, the statement stated that each case of asylum application by those who may be associated to the organisations will be reviewed on an individual basis.
In response to the event, several Nigerians praised the UK government’s decision and demanded that all IPOB supporters be denied entry into the country.
Others chastised the UK government for banning IPOB, claiming that the organisation is not to blame for the deaths and violence in the region.
Here are some of the responses:
Meghan’s country govt has approved that IPOB is a terrorist organization and its members should be excluded from seeking refuge in their country. May be they should try Rwanda. Finland should also do the needful .
— Woye (@woye1) May 5, 2022
Now that UK has recognised IPOB as terrorist group and excluded them from asylum. So what's next for them?
— PAPICHULO (@ZinoMulla) May 6, 2022
UK finally recognize IPOB as a terrorist organization. I expect the United States to do same in few days/weeks.
— Aji Bussu Onye Mpiawa azụ 🇨🇮 (@AfamDeluxo) May 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/OvieNews/status/1522341871321763841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522341871321763841%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.naijanews.com%2F2022%2F05%2F06%2Fnigerians-react-as-uk-recognises-ipob-as-terrorist-groups%2F
Since '70, there's never a time the whole South East was under fear. Before now, Onitsha might be hot, and Imo calm.
But today every state in SE is under attack simultaneously. No state to sympathize with the other.
Onye na ebe, nwanne ya ana ebe. IPOB, this is terrorism
— Ozii Baba Anieto (@ozii_baba) May 5, 2022
The highlight of all this for me is seeing all those who were calling Buhari names and attacking him for declaring IPOB a terrorist org turning around to show their joy and hail these moves against same IPOB…these people claimed Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are fighting a just cause https://t.co/rkr673RIkf
— Souljah (@jeffphilips1) May 6, 2022
The highlight of all this for me is seeing all those who were calling Buhari names and attacking him for declaring IPOB a terrorist org turning around to show their joy and hail these moves against same IPOB…these people claimed Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are fighting a just cause https://t.co/rkr673RIkf
— Souljah (@jeffphilips1) May 6, 2022
Ipob has finally succeeded in tarnishing the Image of Biafra .
— ONYEDIKACHUKWU ANAMBRA (@OnyedikaAnambra) May 5, 2022
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