Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the United Nations Security Council about protecting civilians displaced by terrorist activity in (1) northern, and (2) central, Nigeria.

The UK Government remains concerned about the deteriorating security situation in parts of Nigeria, including in the northern and central states. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians and human rights for all Nigerians. Our current assessment is that terrorist activity is limited to North East Nigeria where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa conduct appalling attacks on all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. The UK drafted a UN Security Council press statement, released on 16 June, condemning the recent terror attacks in Felo, Monguno and Nganzai, Borno State.

We acknowledge that intercommunal violence and criminality has devastating effects on communities in Northern and central states. We have engaged closely with the UN, Federal Government, state governments, the National Economic Council and other international partners to help address the drivers of intercommunal violence and push for solutions. We have encouraged efforts by the UN's Office for West Africa & the Sahel, UNOWAS, to increase engagement with regional governments on efforts to address the long-term causes and drivers of violence. We reiterated our commitment to the region in a UK statement on 5 June at the UN Security Council, setting out our intention to work with the UN and international partners to ensure peace, stability, sustainable development and justice for the people of West Africa and the Sahel, including Nigerians.