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A report by Punch indicates that the
United Kingdom has asked the Nigerian
government to clarify the status and
whereabouts of IPOB leader, Nnamdi
Kanu.
According to the report, the British
government said it had asked the
Nigerian government if the British/
Nigerian national was alive or dead.
This was made known by the press
officer, United Kingdom High
Commission in Nigeria, Joe Abuku.
Abuku stated that the inquiry followed
reports that Kanu had been missing
since Thursday, September 14, after a
Nigerian Military raid in his country
home in Abia state .
“We are seeking urgent clarification from
the Nigerian authorities about the status
and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-
Nigerian man, who has been reported
missing since September 14,” Abuku told
Punch via email on Thursday,
September 28.
When asked if the UK would strip Kanu
of his British citizenship on account of
the declaration by the Nigerian
government that he was leading a
terrorist organisation, Abuku said they
don't comment on individual cases.
His words: “One of the conditions that
can make the United Kingdom strip its
citizen of nationality is if the person
engages in a terrorist activity at home or
abroad. And Kanu has dual citizenship
and therefore a citizen of Nigeria and the
UK.”
On whether the UK supported the
Nigerian government’s proscription of
IPOB, Abuku responded saying the
group was not a proscribed organisation
under the British law.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a
proscribed organisation in the UK,” he
stressed.
He also declined comment on whether
the IPOB might be designated as a
terrorist group or proscribed by the
British authorities.
“We do not routinely comment on
whether an organisation is or is not
under consideration for proscription. A
decision to proscribe an organisation
must be based on a belief that it is
concerned in terrorism as defined in the
Terrorism Act 2000, and it must be
proportionate,” he added.
It could not be immediately ascertained
if the Nigerian government had
responded to the inquiries or not.
The United States had earlier said it did
not consider IPOB a terrorist group and
urged Nigerians to de-escalate tension
and embrace peaceful resolution of
grievances.
“Within the context of unity, we
encourage all Nigerians to support a de-
escalation of tensions and peaceful
resolution of grievances. The Indigenous
People of Biafra is not a terrorist
organisation under US law,”
spokesperson for the American Embassy
in Nigeria, Russell Brooks said in a
statement.
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