President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has berated Western countries for “harbouring” the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), proscribed a terrorist organisation.

During his official engagements with some international media organisations and policy institutes in Washington DC, information minister Lai Mohammed said the Western countries backed IPOB to destabilise Nigeria.

“IPOB is a terrorist organisation so declared by the Nigerian government, yet some Western countries harbour them and have been dealing with the illegal body,” the minister said.

He added, “They allow them to raise funds, some allow them to lobby their Congressmen and lawmakers and whatever fund they realise, they use it to destabilise the country.”

Mr Mohammed said it is hypocritical for the Western world to claim it is fighting terrorism yet to be supporting a terrorist organisation.

The minister also used the opportunity of the interactions to call on the foreign media to stop regurgitating social media fables on Nigeria’s 2023 elections on their platforms.

He said they should be critical and interrogate the information they get on social media before reporting them on their platforms.

The minister is in Washington to engage with international media organisations and Think tanks on the just concluded 2023 polls.

(NAN)