Canada has aligned with the United States in expressing deep concern over what lawmakers describe as ongoing violence targeting Christians in Nigeria.
The issue took centre stage in the Canadian Parliament following a statement highlighting the rising tide of killings, forced displacement, and attacks on places of worship across the West African nation.
Andrew Scheer, Conservative Party Member of Parliament and former House Leader, brought the matter to global attention, warning that extremist violence against Christian communities has reached alarming proportions.
Addressing fellow lawmakers, Scheer said Nigeria is facing a crisis marked by mass killings, widespread displacement, and the systematic destruction of churches. He emphasized that the international community’s silence is exacerbating the situation.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the tragedy Christians in Nigeria are experiencing,” Scheer said, highlighting the scale and severity of the violence.
He pointed to extremist groups, particularly Boko Haram, as the main perpetrators behind attacks on Christian communities. According to Scheer, the group continues a relentless campaign to eradicate the Christian faith, targeting villages and believers with brutal precision.
Referencing the group’s past atrocities, he said: “The deadly terrorist organization Boko Haram is trying to eliminate the Christian faith from Nigeria. This is the same terrorist group that kidnapped dozens of young schoolgirls and burned innocent civilians alive in cages.”
Scheer further painted a grim picture of the humanitarian fallout. He noted that over 3.5 million people have been displaced across northern and central Nigeria, with churches destroyed at an alarming rate, reportedly three every single day.
He stressed that public worship has become increasingly dangerous, forcing many believers to gather in secret or in the ruins of their churches. “7,000 Christians were massacred this year alone, and the faithful must now meet in secret or in burnt-out sanctuaries,” Scheer said.
The MP also criticized the global community for failing to adequately report or respond to the crisis. He lamented the lack of media coverage and the absence of political pressure on international leaders to address the violence.
“Sadly, the world is turning a blind eye to the plight of Christians in Nigeria. There are no embedded journalists covering the violence. There are not daily updates. Politicians around the world are not asked questions about how they will respond,” he added.
Scheer called for immediate international action, urging governments, humanitarian organizations, and the public to raise awareness and provide support to affected communities.
“We cannot ignore this violence and tragic loss of life. We must speak out and shine a light on what’s happening so that people can donate to relief efforts and provide support to those displaced by violence,” he said.
He concluded his address with a message of solidarity, encouraging Nigerian Christians to remain resilient amid their suffering and assuring them that their plight would not be forgotten.
