US Embassy says 'Our laws don’t see IPOB as a Terrorist group'

United States Government has said it does not consider the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) a terrorist organisation.  

The spokesman for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, told Sunday Punch on Friday that the US was committed to Nigeria’s unity and would support a peaceful resolution of any crisis in the country.  

He said, 'the United States Government is strongly committed to Nigeria’s unity. Important political and economic issues affecting the Nigerian people, such as the allocation of resources, are worthwhile topics for respectful debate in a democracy. 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'.

The US embassy, however, declined to comment on whether the Federal Government had asked it to treat IPOB as a terrorist organisation and to block money sent to IPOB from the US.  Brooks also did not state the US’ position on the agitation for a Biafran state.