Nigerians React As UK Recognises IPOB As Terrorist Group

Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the news that the UK government has labelled the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization.

The Boris Johnson-led government made this known in an updated policy statement on asylum released through the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) on its website.

The policy updated in May 2022 says it agrees with the government of Nigeria which labelled IPOB and its militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) as terrorist organizations.

The UK government also blamed IPOB and ESN led by the arrested Nnamdi Kanu for the increasing violence and human rights violations in the southeast region of the country, ordering its visa officials to exclude members of the group from its asylum programme.

Despite the general exclusion, the statement however pointed out that each case of an asylum application by persons who might be linked with the groups will still be considered on an individual basis.

Reacting to the development, some Nigerians supported the action of the UK government and further asked that all supporters of IPOB should not be granted visas into the country.

While others condemned the UK government for proscribing IPOB, saying the group is not responsible for the killings and violence in the South East.

Some of the reactions below:

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

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

Ipob has finally succeeded in tarnishing the Image of Biafra .

— ONYEDIKACHUKWU ANAMBRA (@OnyedikaAnambra) May 5, 2022