Canadian lawmaker Andrew Scheer has accused the international community of turning a blind eye to what he describes as systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria, claiming that three churches are destroyed daily in the West African nation.

Scheer, who represents Regina–Qu'Appelle in Canada's House of Commons and formerly led the Conservative Party, made these allegations during a parliamentary address and in a video shared on his X account on Friday.

"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," Scheer stated.

The Canadian politician pointed to Boko Haram and allied militias as perpetrators of what he termed a "genocidal campaign" that has devastated Christian communities across Nigeria. He referenced the terrorist group's history of violence, including the abduction of schoolgirls and burning of civilians alive.

According to Scheer, the situation has deteriorated to the point where Christian worshippers in Nigeria now gather in secrecy or in buildings that have been burned down.

The allegations have gained traction in Western media, with American comedian Bill Maher also highlighting the issue during his HBO show "Real Time" on September 26. Maher characterized the violence as genocide, citing claims that more than 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and 18,000 churches destroyed. U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Mace subsequently thanked him for bringing attention to the crisis.

However, the Nigerian government has firmly rejected these characterizations. In a statement released on Sunday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as false and divisive. The government maintains that terrorist groups target Nigerians of all faiths indiscriminately, including Muslims, Christians, and non-religious communities.

The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about religious violence in Nigeria, where terrorist activities have claimed thousands of lives across different communities and faith groups in recent years.

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