Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in Nigeria, especially with regard to the risk of further atrocity crimes, including by reference to their Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability assessments.

Nigeria is witnessing rising conflict and insecurity, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence. In the North East, terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa target all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views and the threat posed to both Christian and Muslim communities remains severe. These incidents are distinct from the ongoing intercommunal violence elsewhere in Nigeria. The root causes of this violence are complex, and whilst religious identity can play a role, so can loss of economic opportunity, competition over land and natural resources, disruption to traditional ways of life created by environmental degradation, and historical grievances. I am proud that the UK government's assessment is underpinned by a robust analytical evidence base, including the Nigeria Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability.