The developing genocide of Christians and ongoing mass-scale abductions of students unfolding in Nigeria by extremists are ticking time bombs amidst a growing security crisis in Nigeria. The Nigerian government itself faces serious allegations of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings under the guise of tackling insecurity.

This petition is an explicit call to action to the UK Government to apply pressure through its UK-Nigeria Security & Defence Partnership (the ‘Partnership’) to demand that the Nigerian government take immediate and effective measures to stop the cycle of religious violence and mass abductions of Nigerians including human rights violations allegedly committed by Nigeria’s security forces. 

Until this demand is met, the UK Government must:

1. Withhold or Completely Ban the sale of lethal and non-lethal military equipment to Nigeria as well as any form of military aid;

2. Place sanctions on Nigerian government officials, bodies and institutions directly or indirectly involved in the aiding and abetting of religious violence, abductions and human rights violations in Nigeria.

Worsening Security

With the Nigerian security situation worsening (more killings, more displacement, more children out of education, abducted young girls still in captivity, e.g. Leah Sahribu), this poses a potentially significant rise in persecuted Nigerians seeking refuge and asylum in the United Kingdom. UK Taxpayers (including British Nigerians) want to know that UK foreign policy, such as the Nigeria Partnership, is not fuelling the refugee crisis and wasting their money. It must achieve meaningful change, or it will be seen as a performative abuse of taxpayer money while people keep dying.

The developing genocidal violence has claimed thousands of innocent lives, particularly women and children, with Open Doors 2024 Watch List research reporting that Nigeria accounts for about 90% of all religiously motivated killings in Africa. These are some of the worst sustained violations of basic human rights, as well as crimes against humanity conducted in Nigeria since the lynching of Deborah Yakubu and imprisonment of Rhoda Jatau for blasphemy. The Nigerian government is actively complicit in the ongoing genocide by failing to protect its most vulnerable citizens from terrorism.

PSJUK verified at least 16,558 killings due to banditry/terrorism between 2020 & 2023. It's been proven that Christian communities are being deliberately targeted, with the Christmas period being one of the more dangerous periods for Christians in this region.
The killings and kidnappings have been operating at an industrial scale with impunity. We urge the British Government to demand accountability and justice from the Nigerian government for these heinous crimes. A common pushback is that this is all 'alarmism'. But we have seen from history as well as current events around the World, what happens when violations of human rights and international law are ignored or delayed.
By signing this petition, you are demanding the killings and persecutions must stop, calling for impunity to meet justice, standing up against religious persecution and advocating for peace, justice, and human dignity for all Nigerians regardless of their faith or belief system.

Please sign this petition today; your voice can make a difference!

This petition is organised by Femi Oluwole, Nels Abbey, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, and PSJUK.