Tinubu UK visit Christian killings: Nigerian president to meet King Charles III and PM Starmer over attacks on Christians and human rights concerns

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to address concerns over killings and attacks on Christians in Nigeria during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, where he will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.

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The Nigerian leader, accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, will attend a state banquet on Wednesday as guests of honour.

He is also scheduled for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street on Thursday, 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 human rights protections amid rising attacks on Christians by Islamist terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Earlier this year, approximately 163 Christian worshippers were kidnapped in Kaduna State, part of a broader wave of violence targeting Christians in northern Nigeria, where sharia law is practised in 12 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 not adequately addressed such attacks.

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

The parliamentary group called on Prime Minister Starmer to prioritise human rights in future diplomatic, security, and trade discussions with Nigeria, requesting a response from Minister Chapman prior to the state visit.

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Additionally, the new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally is expected to host Mrs Tinubu at Lambeth Palace on Thursday, where human rights concerns may also be discussed.