Members of the United Kingdom’s Parliament have called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to raise concerns over the killings of Christians in Nigeria during President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming state visit.
President Tinubu, alongside his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, is scheduled to attend a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday and hold talks with Starmer at Downing Street on Thursday. This marks the first Nigerian presidential state visit to the UK in 37 years.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) has written to Development Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman, urging the UK government to press the Nigerian leader on human rights protection.
The letter, signed by 209 MPs and peers, criticized Nigeria for not adequately addressing attacks on Christians and called for updates on the case of Leah Sharibu, one of the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped in 2018.
Jim Shannon, chairman of APPG FoRB and member of the Democratic Unionist Party, emphasized that Nigeria must take “concrete steps” to stop the harassment, persecution, and killing of Christians, while ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.
The group also requested that human rights issues be prioritized in future diplomatic, trade, and security discussions with Nigeria.
Separately, Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally is expected to meet Oluremi Tinubu at Lambeth Palace on Thursday.
The First Lady, a pastor, is scheduled to lead a prayer service and engage with representatives from the Church of England and faith-based charities supporting Nigeria, including Christian Aid.
