Actress Emma Thompson, along with musician Annie Lennox and a group of prominent figures, is spearheading a campaign to combat political violence and the looming threat of genocide in Nigeria. The ‘Stop Nigeria Genocide’ campaign, also supported by actor Kate Henshaw, Lord Simon Woolley, Baroness Sayeeda, writer Nels Abbey, campaigner Femi Oluwole, and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, aims to hold Nigeria’s government accountable amidst escalating violence driven by religiously motivated ideology and political and economic unrest.
Nigeria recently celebrated its 64th anniversary of independence from Britain, coinciding with the launch of the campaign on the same day. The campaigners expressed concern over the increasing pattern of religiously motivated genocide, highlighting systematic attacks on Christian communities in north-central Nigeria and ongoing terrorism in Muslim communities across various regions of the country. The period between 2020 and 2023 saw nearly 20,000 deaths due to violence, with more than 1,200 abductions recorded in 2024 alone.
President Bola Tinubu, elected in 2023 with promises to address the violence, has faced criticism for failing to do so while presiding over economic challenges such as soaring inflation and a rising cost of living. Despite the President’s recent declaration of progress in addressing the violence, concerns persist over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the country. The campaign emphasises the need for stronger legal safeguards to ensure the Nigerian government prioritises the security and prosperity of its citizens.
The UK government’s renewal of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) underscores the strategic partnership between the two countries, with a focus on security programmes in Africa. However, the campaign group argues for greater accountability from the Nigerian government and questions the effectiveness of the SDP in reducing violence within Nigeria. Activists involved in the campaign stress the importance of addressing the security crisis in Nigeria not only for the nation itself but also for regional and global stability.
Prominent figures involved in the campaign have called for urgent action to halt the escalating violence and protect the lives, liberties, and livelihoods of the Nigerian people. The UK government has been urged to take a more active role in ensuring accountability and addressing the root causes of the crisis in Nigeria. The campaigners emphasise the need for global attention and support to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the country.
As the campaign gains momentum, the international community is watching closely to see how the Nigerian government and its allies respond to the calls for action in addressing the violence and potential genocide threat. The spotlight is on Nigeria as efforts intensify to bring about peace, security, and stability in the region.