Scheer Warns Of Systematic Persecution Of Christians In Nigeria, Says Three Churches Destroyed Daily
Andrew Scheer, a member of the House of Commons – Regina–Qu’Appelle in Canada, has accused the international community of deliberately ignoring what he described as the “systematic persecution” of Christians in Nigeria.
Speaking on the floor of Canada’s House of Commons, Scheer said terrorist group Boko Haram and allied militias were carrying out a genocidal campaign that has left thousands dead and millions displaced while the world looks away.
“The world has largely ignored the persecution of Christians in Nigeria: 7,000 killed, 3.5 million displaced, and three churches destroyed every day. It’s time to break the silence, raise awareness, and support those enduring unimaginable suffering.
“The Honourable Member for Regina–Capel. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the tragedy Christians in Nigeria are experiencing. The deadly terrorist organization Boko Haram is trying to eliminate the Christian faith from Nigeria,” Scheer, a former Leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, said in a video posted on his X account on Friday.
He recalled Boko Haram’s brutal atrocities, including the abduction of schoolgirls and the burning alive of civilians, stressing that worshippers in Nigeria now gather in secrecy or in burnt-out church buildings.
According to him, international media and political leaders have largely refused to cover the violence, leaving the victims without sustained global attention.
“This is the same terrorist group that kidnapped dozens of young schoolgirls and burned innocent civilians alive in cages. According to reports, over 3.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes. Three churches are destroyed every single day,” he said.
“7,000 Christians were massacred this year alone, and the faithful must now meet in secret or in burnt-out sanctuaries. 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 no daily updates. Politicians around the world are not asked questions about how they will respond. We cannot ignore this violence and tragic loss of life.”
He urged governments, faith communities, and humanitarian groups to step in with relief efforts and solidarity for those suffering displacement and loss.
“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. To my brothers and sisters in Christ, we know you know the power of prayer. We will not forget you. Stay strong. Keep the faith,” he stated.
American comedian and television host Bill Maher recently blasted Western media for ignoring what he described as the ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Speaking on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, September 26, Maher accused news outlets and political elites of deliberately staying silent while Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militias slaughter Christians and raze churches across Nigeria.
“Nigeria, the fact that this issue has not gotten on people’s radar, it’s pretty amazing,” Maher said. “If you don’t know what’s going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck. You are in a bubble.”
The comedian, who is an outspoken critic of religion but often uses his platform to highlight uncomfortable truths, compared the violence to a full-scale genocide.
“I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over a hundred thousand since 2009. They’ve burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram. This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country,” he said.
During the show, U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Mace (Republican, South Carolina) thanked Maher for raising the alarm, stressing that the media had failed to cover the crisis with the urgency it deserves.
Maher further questioned the absence of public outrage in America. “Where are the kids protesting this?” he asked, criticizing Western activists for ignoring mass killings and displacement in Africa while focusing on other global causes.
On Sunday, the Nigerian Government dismissed reports suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria were carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians, describing such claims as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group as “a gross misrepresentation of reality.”
The minister stressed that terrorist groups target people of all faiths.
- “The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community. These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands,” he said.
