09/21/2017
The government of
France has denied anything to do with the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the group seeking a
referendum to carve out a separate country in the South East
region of Nigeria.
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the group seeking a
referendum to carve out a separate country in the South East
region of Nigeria.
The federal government
of Nigeria which launched a military
clampdown on the separatist group last week, subsequently
proscribed it a terrorist organisation.
The government also alleged that the group was being funded
from France and that it would take urgent measures to block it.
But in a reaction, the Embassy of France in Nigeria has expressed
surprise at the statement made yesterday (Wednesday) by the
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
indicating that the “financial headquarters” of IPOB was in France.
The statement signed by the Political Counselor, Embassy of
France in Nigeria, Claude Abily, challenged the Federal
Government of Nigeria to provide documentary evidence to
substantiate its claims that France was the financial headquarters
of IPOB.
clampdown on the separatist group last week, subsequently
proscribed it a terrorist organisation.
The government also alleged that the group was being funded
from France and that it would take urgent measures to block it.
But in a reaction, the Embassy of France in Nigeria has expressed
surprise at the statement made yesterday (Wednesday) by the
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
indicating that the “financial headquarters” of IPOB was in France.
The statement signed by the Political Counselor, Embassy of
France in Nigeria, Claude Abily, challenged the Federal
Government of Nigeria to provide documentary evidence to
substantiate its claims that France was the financial headquarters
of IPOB.
“The Embassy of France was surprised by
the statement made
yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture
indicating
that the “financial headquarters” of IPOB were in France.
“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in
France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the
Embassy on this point. We stand ready to examine any
information which could support this statement.
“Furthermore, we would like to reiterate that France actively
cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we
strongly support the unity of the country,” the Embassy said.
that the “financial headquarters” of IPOB were in France.
“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in
France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the
Embassy on this point. We stand ready to examine any
information which could support this statement.
“Furthermore, we would like to reiterate that France actively
cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we
strongly support the unity of the country,” the Embassy said.
Published / by : Anyi Kings
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