EUROPEAN countries got a request from the Federal Government yesterday – they should stop harbouring members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).
Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed, claimed that members of the group use funds raised in Western countries to “destabilise” Nigeria.
Mohammed spoke during his engagements with some international media organisations on the just-concluded elections.
The minister noted that IPOB remains a terrorist group as declared by the Nigerian government and should be treated as such by the Western countries.
He said: “IPOB is a terrorist organisation so declared by the Nigeria government, yet some Western countries harbour them and have been dealing with the illegal body.
“They allow them to raise funds, some allow them to lobby their congressmen and lawmakers and whatever fund they realise they use it to destabilise the country.”
In 2017, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, declared IPOB a terrorist organisation after the army and Southeast governors proscribed the group and its activities.
Although the United Kingdom (UK) government had recognised the proscription of the group, several other Western countries are yet to follow suit.
A 2023 global terrorism index (GTI) report which ranked IPOB as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world was later withdrawn by the organisation.
In the withdrawal, GTI referred to IPOB as a pro-Biafra secessionist movement and not a terrorist group.