Sir Keir Starmer must confront Nigeria‘s president over the killing of Christians while he is in the UK for a state visit, MPs have demanded.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will be accompanied by his wife Oluremi, are set to be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where they will attend a state banquet as guests of honour.
The Nigerian president will then travel to Downing Street to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir on Thursday, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years.
MPs from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) have written to the Development Minister, Baroness Jenny Chapman, calling for the Government to pressure Mr Tinubu on the protection of human rights in his country.
This comes amid Nigeria’s ranking as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, following prolific coordinated attacks by Islamist terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
Some 163 Christian worshippers were kidnapped by armed gangs earlier this year in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State, adding to a wave of kidnappings targeting Christians in the country – where sharia law is practised in 12 of its northern states.
DUP MP Jim Shannon, the group’s chairman, said Nigeria must ‘take concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted’.
King Charles and President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a meeting in a hotel in Dubai, as they attended the Cop28 summit in 2023
Christians in Nigeria, pictured, live in one of the most dangerous countries in the world for their faith group
The group of 209 MPs and peers expressed concern that the Nigerian state has failed to treat the attacks with the level of seriousness required.
They demanded the Government shed light on the case of Leah Sharibu, who was one of the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped in 2018.
She remains held prisoner by the militants as she refuses to renounce her Christian faith.
APPG FoRB also urged Sir Keir to ensure that human rights obligations become fundamental to all future diplomatic, security and trade discussions.
It has requested a response from Baroness Chapman before the state visit.
The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, may also pressure Mrs Tinubu on human rights as she hosts the Nigerian First Lady at Lambeth Palace on Thursday.
Mrs Tinubu, who is a Christian Pastor while her husband is Muslim, will attend a prayer service and be invited to preach.
She will also join representatives from the Church of England and faith charities that have provided support in Nigeria, such as Christian Aid, at a reception at Lambeth Palace.
Claims of genocide against Christians in the African nation began circulating last year, which were followed by US airstrikes on the northern Sokoto state on Christmas Day.
President Donald Trump warned of further airstrikes, targeting Islamist militants, as the two countries continue a dispute over what Trump has characterised as the mass killing of Christians in armed conflicts.
Trump told the New York Times: ‘I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians it will be a many-time strike.’
Thousands have been killed in one Nigerian state alone since the early 2000s, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
While Nigeria’s Security Tracker predicts that more than 60,000 people have died nationwide as a result of communal and insurgent violence since 2011.
Nigeria’s government rejected Trump’s accusations that it is failing to protect Christians, adding that ‘Muslim, Christians and those of no faith alike’ are being targeted by jihadists.
Nigeria – which has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1960 – is home to more than 220million people, which is projected to grow to 400million within decades.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.
