British parliamentarians have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to press Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on alleged attacks and killings of Christians during the Nigerian leader’s state visit to the United Kingdom this week.
Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, are due to attend a state banquet at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles III and the Queen Consort on Wednesday, followed by talks with Starmer at 10 Downing Street on Thursday. The visit is the first UK state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years.
In a letter to Development Minister Jenny Chapman, members of the All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Freedom of Religion or Belief called on the government to use bilateral meetings to highlight concerns about religious freedom and broader human rights issues in Nigeria. The APPG pointed to continuing violence in parts of the country, including attacks linked to militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Jim Shannon, chairman of the APPG, said the Nigerian government must take “concrete steps” to halt the persecution and killing of Christians and ensure that those responsible are investigated and prosecuted. The group also urged ministers to make human rights a central consideration in future diplomatic, security and trade engagement with Abuja.
The lawmakers drew attention to the case of Leah Sharibu, one of the schoolgirls abducted by militants in 2018 who remains in captivity after reportedly refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
Mrs Tinubu is expected to attend a prayer service at Lambeth Palace during the visit, hosted by Bishop of London Sarah Mullally, where she will meet representatives of the Church of England and faith‑based charities working in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s government has previously rejected claims that it is failing to protect Christians, noting that victims of extremist violence in the country include people of different faiths. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had not issued a public response to the APPG’s request ahead of the visit.
