The government of the United Kingdom (UK) says only violent members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be denied asylum in Britain. 

Reacting to reports claiming that the UK added IPOB to its list of terrorist groups, the British High Commission (BHC) in Abuja, said the British government only acknowledged Nigeria’s classification of the group.

In a statement by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, a BHC spokesperson, the UK government said “all asylum and human rights claims made in the UK are considered on their individual facts in accordance with our obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights, taking into account relevant background country information and case law”.

The high commission added that IPOB members who have committed violent crimes in Nigeria will not be granted asylum.

“This CPIN also acknowledges that the Nigerian government has proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation, some members of IPOB have reportedly used violence against the state and members of the public, and advises that persons who have committed human rights abuses must not be granted protection,” the statement read.

The Cable