Nigeria: Human Rights and Violence

(asked on 17th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Nigeria on investigating cases of military complicity in (a) violence against Christians and (b) human rights abuses.


Answered by
James Duddridge Portrait
James Duddridge
This question was answered on 24th June 2020

The UK Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting human rights around the world. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians, including all ethnic and religious groups, and human rights for all Nigerians. We are aware of allegations of military complicity in attacks on communities of all faiths. We call for allegations of human rights abuses and excessive use of force to be investigated and those responsible for any abuses to be held to account.

Following allegations of human rights abuses made regarding Nigerian military detention facilities in Amnesty International's recent report, We Dried Our Tears, the British High Commissioner raised these with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and called for a full investigation into the allegations and prosecution of any individuals found to have committed abuses. We reiterate that the UK Government does not provide any support to the military detention facilities mentioned.

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