Members of the United Kingdom Parliament have urged the British government to raise the issue of violence against Christians in Nigeria during President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing visit to the country, ENigeria Newspaper has learnt.
Accoding to a report by DailyMail UK, the call comes as Tinubu prepares for a series of high-level engagements in the UK, including a state reception hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle. The Nigerian president is also expected to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street, marking the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader to Britain in nearly four decades.
In the same vein, during the visit, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu is also anticipated to take part in religious activities. She is due to speak to attendees at an event featuring officials of the Church of England and faith-based charities operating in Nigeria during a prayer meeting at Lambeth Palace.
Ahead of the meeting, lawmakers belonging to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) asked the UK government to prioritise discussions around religious freedom and human rights in Nigeria.
The group encouraged British authorities to emphasize to the Nigerian government the necessity of bolstering safeguards for vulnerable groups and guaranteeing responsibility for violent attacks in a letter written to Development Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman.
The lawmakers cited frequent attacks on Christian communities around the nation, especially in the north, where extremist organizations like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been active for many years.
They also referenced a recent incident in Kaduna State in which more than 160 Christian worshippers were reportedly abducted by armed groups, describing it as part of a broader pattern of targeted violence.
Nigeria needs to show a greater dedication to resolving the issue, according to Jim Shannon, head of the parliamentary group and a member of the Democratic Unionist Party.
He believes that government should take decisive action to stop attacks on religious organizations and make sure that those who commit acts of violence are held accountable.
The lawmakers additionally drew attention to the long-standing case of Leah Sharibu, one of the schoolgirls abducted during an attack on a school in Dapchi in 2018. Sharibu remains in captivity after reportedly refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
The group said it expects a formal response from the UK government before the conclusion of Tinubu’s visit and wants human rights considerations to form part of future diplomatic, trade and security engagements with Nigeria.
The discussions are expected to touch on humanitarian concerns and the role of religious organisations in supporting communities affected by violence and insecurity.
