The British Government has pulled down a notice it published regarding its asylum policy in relation to separatist pro-Biafra groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra and Movement for the Actualization of Biafra.
In an email sent to Radio Now, signed by Hannah Dawson, Senior Communications Officer, Newsdesk at the Home office, the British Government said the policy was being reviewed and would be uploaded once it was ready.
The email sent by Hannah Dawson was in response to a query by Radio Now, and request for an interview on the original policy which seemed to offer protection to members of groups some of which had not only been proscribed but also stood accused of being behind recent attacks against policemen and government infrastructure in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.
The UK Government did not, however, give a time frame as to when the updated policy would be uploaded to their website.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had on Wednesday criticized the British government, saying its planned asylum for IPOB and MASSOB members was disrespectful of and sabotage against Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
In response to Nigeria’s umbrage at the planned asylum, the British Government had said on Wednesday that “all asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits and in accordance with its international obligations.”
It added that its asylum policy was updated regularly and that the update on the Biafra separatist note would be made available soon.
