Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to raise concerns about the killings of Christians in Nigeria during his planned meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the president’s state visit to the UK.
President Tinubu is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom for a state engagement hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle. The visit includes a state banquet and official meetings with UK government officials.
The visit marks the first state visit by a Nigerian president to the United Kingdom in 37 years. During the trip, Tinubu is also expected to meet Prime Minister Starmer at 10 Downing Street for bilateral discussions.
Ahead of the meeting, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief wrote to the UK government urging that concerns about religious violence in Nigeria be raised during the discussions.
Members of the parliamentary group addressed their letter to the UK Development Minister Jenny Chapman, asking the government to press Nigeria on the protection of human rights.
The group said Nigeria ranks among countries where Christians face security threats, citing attacks carried out by armed groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
According to the lawmakers, incidents of kidnappings and attacks targeting Christian communities have been reported in parts of northern Nigeria.
They cited a case earlier in the year in which 163 Christian worshippers were kidnapped by armed gangs in Kaduna State.
Chairman of the parliamentary group, Jim Shannon, said Nigeria must take measures to address violence against Christian communities.
He stated that Nigeria should “take concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted.”
The lawmakers also called for attention to the case of Leah Sharibu, one of the schoolgirls abducted in 2018 who remains in captivity after refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
The lawmakers urged that human rights considerations be included in diplomatic, security, and trade discussions between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. They requested a response from the UK government before the state visit takes place.
They also indicated that discussions related to human rights could arise during engagements involving Nigeria’s First Lady and religious leaders in the United Kingdom.
