British lawmakers have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to raise concerns about the killing of Christians in Nigeria during his upcoming meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom for a state engagement.
President Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, are expected to be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The royal reception will include a state banquet in their honour as part of a high-profile diplomatic visit.
Following the royal engagement, Tinubu is scheduled to travel to 10 Downing Street on Thursday for talks with Starmer. The visit is expected to mark the first official state visit by a Nigerian president to the United Kingdom in about 37 years.
Ahead of the meeting, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) have written to the UK’s Development Minister, Jenny Chapman, urging the British government to use the opportunity to address concerns about human rights and religious freedom in Nigeria.
The lawmakers said the UK government should press the Nigerian administration to take stronger measures to protect religious communities and ensure justice for victims of violence.
Their concerns come amid reports that Nigeria remains one of the countries where Christians face significant threats from extremist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which have carried out numerous attacks in parts of northern Nigeria.
Earlier this year, about 163 Christian worshippers were reportedly abducted by armed gangs in Kaduna State, highlighting the continuing wave of kidnappings and violence affecting communities in the region.
Chairman of the parliamentary group and member of the Democratic Unionist Party, Jim Shannon, stated that Nigeria must take decisive action to address
According to him, the Nigerian government should implement concrete measures to prevent harassment, persecution, and killings of Christians while ensuring that those responsible for such crimes are properly investigated and prosecuted.
The group, which includes more than 200 MPs and members of the House of Lords, also expressed concern that Nigerian authorities have not responded to the attacks with the urgency required.
Among the issues raised in the letter is the case of Leah Sharibu, one of the schoolgirls abducted in 2018 during a mass kidnapping carried out by militants. While several of the abducted girls were later released, Sharibu reportedly remains in captivity after refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
The lawmakers urged the UK government to ensure that discussions on diplomacy, trade, and security with Nigeria are accompanied by firm commitments on
They also requested that the Development Minister provide a response to their concerns before President Tinubu’s visit takes place.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, is also expected to engage with Nigeria’s First Lady during the visit. Mrs Tinubu is scheduled to attend an event at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop.
During the gathering, she will participate in a prayer service and is expected to deliver a sermon. The event will also include representatives from the Church of England as well as humanitarian organisations such as Christian Aid, which have been involved in supporting communities affected by conflict and insecurity in Nigeria.
The planned engagements highlight the diplomatic importance of the visit while also placing renewed international attention on security and religious freedom concerns in Nigeria.
