Andrew Rosindell M.P., in his capacity as a Member of the Foreign Committee, has written to the Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon. The Lord Cameron, regarding Christian persecution in Nigeria.
A pdf copy of the letter can be found attached below.
In his letter, Andrew stated the following:
Urgent Concerns Regarding the Ongoing Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
Friday 2nd February 2024
Dear Lord Cameron
I trust this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage over the disturbing rise in violence against Christians in Nigeria at the hands of Islamist militants. As the Member of Parliament for Romford and a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, I feel compelled to bring this grave issue to greater public attention, urging the Government to take immediate and decisive action to acknowledge the escalating crisis.
The statistics provided by the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (O.R.F.A.) are both shocking and disheartening. Since His Majesty the King acceded to the throne in September 2022, until June 2023, a staggering 3,262 Christians have lost their lives. This brutality is further highlighted by the tragic incident where 200 individuals were ruthlessly killed while celebrating Christmas in Plateau State in December alone.
Equally alarming are the findings of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, a reputable Nigerian-based research and investigative rights group. According to their report, 52,250 Christians have been killed since 2009, equating to an appalling average of 9.5 Christian deaths per day. It is deeply troubling to note that Nigeria now accounts for 89% of Christian martyrs worldwide, as reported by OpenDoors.
Disturbingly, I have personally witnessed gruesome videos depicting Islamic Fundamentalists raiding and pillaging Christian villages, mercilessly murdering and torturing innocent inhabitants, and callously burning down their places of worship. The graphic nature of these acts underscores the urgency of the matter and the need for immediate intervention to protect the lives and well-being of Nigeria's Christian population.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has often attempted to diminish the notion that Christians are deliberately singled out for eradication, emphasising climate change and conflicts between farmers and herders as the true reasons behind the violence. However, this explanation has been dismissed by several Catholic leaders and entities within Nigeria.
The nineteenth century Fulani jihad strategy which involved advancing southward to incorporate non-Islamic communities situated far beyond the southern boundaries of the former Sokoto Caliphate into the Islamic world, continues to persist. Samuel Johnson, an Anglican missionary, freed slave, and Yoruba historian, characterised this approach as an attempt to “dip the Qur’an into the sea”. This expression is utilised to this day to describe this ongoing crisis.
I kindly request that you raise this issue with the Nigerian Government with utmost urgency, utilising all diplomatic channels available to address the human rights violations occurring in Nigeria. Furthermore, I implore you to consider appropriate measures to assist the Nigerian government in combating these extremist elements and ensuring the safety of its citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. As the former colonial power in the region, we must use the diplomatic soft-power that we still maintain to ensure peace can prosper.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to hearing about the steps the government intends to take to address this humanitarian crisis. It is our moral duty to stand against religious persecution and protect the basic rights and freedoms of individuals, regardless of their faith.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this pressing issue.
Yours truly,
Andrew Rosindell M.P.
