Members of the UK Parliament have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to confront Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the killing of Christians during the president’s upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom.
President Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, are scheduled to be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle on Wednesday for a state banquet in their honour. The Nigerian leader is also expected to meet Prime Minister Starmer at 10 Downing Street on Thursday. The visit marks the first state visit by a Nigerian president to the UK in 37 years.
The call was made by members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB), who wrote to the UK Development Minister Jenny Chapman, urging the government to pressure Nigeria to improve the protection of human rights.
Chairman of the group, Jim Shannon, said Nigeria must take concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution, and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted.
The group, which includes 209 MPs and peers, expressed concern that the Nigerian government has not treated the attacks with the seriousness required. They also called for clarity on the case of Leah Sharibu, one of the schoolgirls abducted during the Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping.
The lawmakers further urged Prime Minister Starmer to ensure that human rights considerations become a key part of future diplomatic, security, and trade engagements with Nigeria.
The group has requested a formal response from Baroness Chapman ahead of President Tinubu’s state visit.
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