Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that Fulani militants murdered Christians in Yelewata, what assessment they have made of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about protections for Christians facing violence in that country.

The UK Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt and we express our sincere concern for all those impacted. The root causes of intercommunal violence are complex and often linked to land disputes, historical tensions, and criminal activity. While religion is not a causal factor in these conflicts, the impacts are felt acutely by religious communities, including hindering people's ability to practice their faith freely. The UK supports all affected communities, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and is working through programmes like SPRiNG (Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria) and the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) to promote peace, strengthen local institutions, and protect civilians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a priority country under the new FoRB strategy, and we will continue to raise this issue in our engagements with Nigeria.

During my visit to Nigeria from 28 to 30 May, I met ministers and officials to address insecurity and intercommunal violence, with a focus on tackling root causes. Most recently, I raised FoRB with my Nigerian counterpart during the third UK-Nigeria SDP Dialogue (15-16 July) in London.