President Bola Tinubu is expected to respond to concerns from UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and members of the UK Parliament over the ongoing killings and kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria during his state visit next week.
Accompanied by his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, the Nigerian president will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, attending a state banquet as guests of honour.
On Thursday, he will meet Prime Minister Starmer at Downing Street, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian president to Britain in 37 years.
Ahead of the visit, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief wrote to UK Development Minister Jenny Chapman, urging the government to press Nigeria on human rights protection. The call follows Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians amid attacks by Islamist terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
Earlier this year, about 163 Christian worshippers were kidnapped in northern Kaduna State, adding to a wave of attacks targeting Christians in the country, where Sharia law is practised in 12 northern states.
Chairman of the parliamentary group, DUP MP Jim Shannon, stressed that Nigeria must “take concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted”.
A total of 209 MPs and peers expressed concern that Nigerian authorities have not treated the attacks with the seriousness required. The group also urged Starmer to make human rights central to future diplomatic, security, and trade discussions with Nigeria, requesting a response from Minister Chapman ahead of the state visit.
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