Members of parliament (MPs) from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) have written to the Development Minister, Baroness Jenny Chapman, calling for the United Kingdom government to engage and pressure Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on the protection of human rights in his country.
The King and Queen will host President Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where they will be the guests of honour at a state banquet.
The president will then visit Downing Street on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir on Thursday, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years.
The African nation is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, with Islamist terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, targeting Christians and their properties. Sharia is practised in 12 northern states, where Christianity is often punished.
In their letter to Baroness Chapman, the 209 MPs and peers in the group said they were concerned that “in many instances, state authorities and members of the security services have denied the scale or nature of these attacks”.
In particular, they have demanded that the Government raise the case of Leah Sharibu, who was among 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by militants in the country in 2018. She has been held prisoner ever since because she refuses to renounce her Christian faith.
The group also wants Sir Keir to insist that human rights obligations form part of all future diplomatic, security and trade discussions. They have requested a written response from the minister before the state visit.
DUP MP Jim Shannon, the group’s chairman, said Nigeria must ‘take concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted.
APPG FoRB also urged Sir Keir to ensure that human rights obligations become fundamental to all future diplomatic, security and trade discussions.
The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, may also pressure Mrs Tinubu on human rights as she hosts the Nigerian First Lady at Lambeth Palace on Thursday.
Mrs Tinubu, who is a Christian Pastor while her husband is Muslim, will attend a prayer service and be invited to preach.
She will also join representatives from the Church of England and faith charities that have provided support in Nigeria, such as Christian Aid, at a reception at Lambeth Palace.
Claims of genocide against Christians in the African nation began circulating last year, which were followed by US airstrikes on the
