To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the statement
by the Rt Rev Abiodun Ogunyemi, the Anglican Bishop of Zaria, on 24 July, that the
campaign against Christians in Nigeria is a “genocide”, and (2) the responsibilities
of (a) the government of Kaduna State, (b) the government of Nigeria, and (c) the
international community, under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of Genocide;
what plans they have to reassess the causes of the attacks against Christians in Nigeria;
and whether any such plans will discount climate change as the major cause of such
attacks.
<p>We are aware of the statement made by the Right Reverend Abiodun Ogunyemion on
24 July. The UK Government condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence in Nigeria,
including the recently reported attacks in Kaduna State referred to in the Bishop's
statement. Intercommunal violence in Kaduna State and Nigeria more widely affects
communities of all faiths. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the
highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians and human rights for all.</p><p>It
is UK Government policy not to unilaterally determine whether genocide has occurred,
in line with the Genocide Convention. This is a matter for competent courts and tribunals,
including the International Criminal Court, after consideration of all the evidence,
rather than governments or non-judicial bodies.</p><p>The UK Government's assessment
remains that climate change is one of the drivers of intercommunal violence in Nigeria
because of the resulting competition for natural resources. The Bishop of Truro also
considered the effects of climate change on intercommunal violence in Nigeria in his
independent report on the global persecution of Christians.</p>