The United Kingdom has said that all asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with its international obligations. The British government states that it has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with its international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights. The British High Commission stated this on Wednesday, in response to inquiries by The PUNCH on the Federal Government’s allegations that the UK’s asylum offer for persecuted members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra undermined Nigeria’s security. The UK Visas and Immigration had released new guidelines to its decision makers on how to consider and grant asylum applications to IPOB members whose founder, Nnamdi Kanu, is operating from London. Kanu, who holds both Nigerian and British passports, fled Nigeria in 2018 after troops invaded his country home while he was facing trial on treasonable felony charges for criminal conspiracy, intimidation and membership of an illegal organisation. In the guidelines titled, ‘Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups,’ released in March, the UKVI, a division of the Home Office, directed its decision makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution.’’ It further said the UK must also consider if the arrest and prosecution of IPOB members for clamouring for the break-up of the country were acts of prosecution, not persecution. “Those fleeing prosecution or punishment for a criminal offence are not normally refugees. Prosecution may, however, amount to persecution if it involves victimisation in its application by the authorities,’’ the 56-page document noted. But the Federal Government frowned on the UK immigration guidelines, describing them as support for terrorism. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said that the decision was disrespectful, noted that it amounted to sabotaging the fight against terrorism and generally undermining Nigeria’s security. The enquiry The PUNCH sent to the high commission stated, “Following the release of the Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups, in March by the UKVI, the Nigerian Government has declared this as an act of sabotage. It also accused the UK of supporting terrorism. What’s the reaction of the high commission to these weighty allegations?” Responding to the allegations by the Federal Government, the British High Commission in an apparent rebuff, said the UK had a proud history of providing protection to those who needed it. The emailed statement read,” The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights. “Our country policy and information notes are published on the gov.uk website. They are kept under constant review and updated periodically – an update to the Biafra separatist note is expected shortly. We publish them since our decisions can be appealed in the immigration courts, which are public, so it is clearer and fairer for all involved (applicants, their lawyers, judges, stakeholders such as the UNHCR) to know what our position and evidence base it. “All asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.” Source: The Punch

No fewer than 30 people have been killed in renewed bandit attacks on four villages in Zamfara State, authorities and locals have said. The attacks, which were carried out simultaneously, occurred on Tuesday in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. Villages attacked by bandits were Gobirawa, Rini, Gora, and Madoti Dankule in Bakura and Maradun LGAs in the state located in the north-western region of the country. Witnesses said the assailants, who came on motorcycles in a large number, stormed the villages and began to fire sporadic gunshots. This led to the loss of lives and several others were injured, while houses and other valuables of the villagers were razed. “More security personnel are needed in this area if farming is to be successful this season,” said Aminu Suleiman who is the Sole Administrator of Bakura LGA. Suleiman spoke on Wednesday when the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Nasiru Magarya, led a delegation of the state government to the affected villages. He told the delegation who had come to sympathise with the victims that more than 30 people were confirmed killed after the villages were attacked. “Yesterday (Tuesday), we prayed for 17 (dead) people in Rini and about 10 people in Gora; there were two incidents actually. “The first attack that led to the killings of about more than 20 people and the reprisal (by the Yan-Sakai – local vigilante) that led to the killing of about 10 people as well,” the sole administrator recounted. Sani Lawal, one of the victims and a resident of Gobirawa, who spoke in Hausa, narrated how the bandits invaded the communities. “The gunmen came in a large number on motorcycles which could not be counted. They rounded off the villages and were shooting sporadically. “This led to the killing of 28 persons in the affected villages, aside from those who were rushed to hospitals; they (the bandits) also burned down houses and other valuables,” the witness said. In his reaction, the speaker of the Assembly explained that they were directed by the state governor, Bello Matawalle, to visit the victims and sympathise with them. He wished the injured victims a quick recovery and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives to the attacks. Magarya assured the victims that the state government would provide succour to them and ensure the deployment of more security personnel in the area. He condemned the attacks and described them as barbaric and callous, saying the government would not relent in its efforts to crush bandits who fail to repent and tow the path of peace. “The government is highly concerned, and it will deploy adequate security to ensure that the farming season is not disrupted,” said the Secretary to the State Government, Bala Maru. Other members of the delegation were the Commissioners of Security and Home Affairs, Information, as well as the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Zamfara State Police Command.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, on Wednesday, revealed that the nine (9) persons who attacked the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo have been arrested in Anambra state. Nigerian Tribune had earlier reported that Prof. Soludo was last month attacked by gunmen in his country home, Isuofia, in Aguata Local Government Area, during an interactive session with youths of the community that lead to the killings of three policemen in the process. The governor said that there will be no Correctional facility for the attackers. Obiano disclosed this during the launching of the book, “Seven Years Of Governor Willie Obiano Administration,” held at the Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka. He said what happened last month is unfortunate, but let me tell you, we have restrategized and we are coming out like smoking guns. “The nine people that attacked Prof Soludo are in our net now. We are going to eliminate them. We will go after the” others. “As I speak now, riot police officers have been station across the state to arrest those terrorising the state,” the governor added. In his address during the launch, the co-author of the book and the Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Dr Uche Nworah, commended the governor for the prompt arrest. He appeals to politicians in the state to play the game with love, noting that whoever emerges as the next governor of the state come November 6, 2021 election is a governor for all Ndi-Anambra.