ABUJA — The British Minister of the Armed Forces, James Heappey, along with other officers, paid a visit to Nigeria on Sunday.
The visit followed after the Nigerian military declared war on the separatist group – Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and a local vigilante group – Eastern Security Network (ESN) which it claims is responsible for the murder of government’s security operatives in the Biafra region of the country.
Numerous police formations and members of government forces have been attacked and killed by “unknown gunmen” since October 2020, after government forces used force against protesters calling for an end to police brutality and the disbanding of a notorious police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
British High Commissioner to Nigeria Catriona Laing CB, who received the British Minister for Armed Forces, in Abuja, said that the “visit here demonstrates how important & how much we value our defence relationship with Nigeria.”
“I’m looking forward to his engagements with senior members of @HQNigerianArmy & @NigeriaGov over the next few days,” she added.
The main reason for the visit is not yet very clear, but a source told Newsmen that it is in connection with insecurity in Nigeria, and the statement in which the military ordered troops to take decisive action against members of IPOB and ESN.
