UK Lawmakers Ask Starmer to Challenge Tinubu Over Christian Killings During State Visit

Several lawmakers in the United Kingdom have called on British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to raise concerns with Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, regarding the reported killings of Christians in Nigeria during the president’s ongoing state visit.

TRUETELLS Nigeria reports that Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, are scheduled to be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle for a state banquet on Wednesday as part of the official visit.

Following the royal engagement, Tinubu is expected to meet Starmer at 10 Downing Street on Thursday. The visit marks the first state visit to the United Kingdom by a Nigerian president in 37 years.

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) have written to the UK Development Minister, Jenny Chapman, Baroness Chapman of Darlington, urging the British government to press Nigeria to strengthen the protection of religious freedoms and human rights.

The lawmakers expressed concern about the country’s security situation, noting that Nigeria has been ranked among the most dangerous places for Christians due to repeated attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Chairman of the group, Jim Shannon, stressed that Nigerian authorities must take decisive action to end the harassment, persecution, and killing of Christians while ensuring that those responsible for such crimes are properly investigated and prosecuted.

The group, which includes about 209 MPs and members of the House of Lords, also raised concerns that the Nigerian government has not responded with sufficient urgency to the violence.

They further called for clarification on the status of Leah Sharibu, one of the 110 schoolgirls abducted in 2018 by extremists and still believed to be in captivity.

According to the lawmakers, human rights commitments should be central to all future diplomatic, security, and trade discussions between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. They also requested a response from Baroness Chapman ahead of the state visit.