The plight of Christians and others murdered for their faith has been highlighted by Lord Alton in the House of Lords.
Speaking in a recent debate, he reminded peers of the plight of Nigerian Christians, pointing out that in 2023, “some 82 per cent of Christians killed for their faith… were in Nigeria - 4,998 Christians were slaughtered, with 200 murdered during the Christmas services”.
He added that he had met Dominic and Margaret Attah, “who were survivors of the Boko Haram Pentecost attack at St Francis Xavier Church in Owo, where 30 were murdered. Margaret’s legs had been blown off. She wanted to know why nobody had been brought to justice. I asked the then Minister, who told me in reply: ‘We continue to call for those who committed this attack to be brought to justice and held to account’.
“Needless to say, they have not been brought to account. Nor have the abductors of Leah Sharibu, who was abducted on 19 February 2018 by ISIS West Africa from the Government Girls Science and Technology College in Dapchi, Yobe State. Leah was told to convert; she refused, and was raped, impregnated and enslaved. She is still held captive. I promised her mother, Rebecca, who I showed around your Lordships’ House, that I would lose no opportunity to raise her case. I have done so on a number of occasions with Ministers.”
