Tinubu to address Starmer, UK Lawmakers’ concerns on ‘Christian killings’ during visit

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to address concerns raised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and British lawmakers over killings of Christians in Nigeria when he visits the United Kingdom next week.

Tinubu, who will be accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where they will attend a state banquet as guests of honour.

The Nigerian leader will also travel to Downing Street on Thursday for talks with Starmer, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian president to Britain in 37 years.

Ahead of the visit, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief wrote to Development Minister Jenny Chapman, urging the UK government to press Nigeria on the protection of human rights.

The call follows Nigeria’s ranking as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, amid coordinated attacks by Islamist terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Earlier this year, about 163 Christian worshippers were kidnapped by armed gangs in northern Kaduna State, adding to a wave of kidnappings targeting Christians in the country, where sharia law is practised in 12 northern states.

DUP MP Jim Shannon, chairman of the parliamentary group, said Nigeria must “take concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted”.

A group of 209 MPs and peers also expressed concern that Nigerian authorities have failed to treat the attacks with the seriousness required.

They also raised the case of Leah Sharibu, one of the 110 schoolgirls abducted in 2018 who remains in captivity after refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

The parliamentary group further urged Starmer to ensure that human rights obligations become central to future diplomatic, security and trade discussions with Nigeria.

The lawmakers have requested a response from Chapman before the state visit.

Meanwhile, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, is expected to host Mrs Tinubu at Lambeth Palace on Thursday and may also raise human rights issues during the meeting.