SDIR Committee News Release
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Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development |  | Sous-comité des droits internationaux de la personne du Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
Statement of the Subcommittee on the Attacks on Christians and Wider Violence in Nigeria
Ottawa, December 09, 2025 -
Nigeria is currently facing a severe crisis marked by widespread violence and insecurity. Christian communities have experienced some of the most severe impacts, including repeated attacks on villages, churches and schools resulting in a devastating loss of life. The violence has caused mass displacement, with many people forced to live in overcrowded camps for internally displaced persons.In response to these events, the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development held an urgent meeting on November 17, 2025. Witnesses included individuals affected by the violence, as well as representatives from faith-based, non-governmental, and community-based organizations. All witnesses emphasized the need for decisive action by the Nigerian government, noting that while the violence involves multiple intersecting factors, the crisis is anchored in its failure to enforce the rule of law and protect its citizens.
Witnesses informed the Subcommittee that the violence stems from different but overlapping security crises, including insurgency in Nigeria’s north-east, banditry and kidnappings in the north-west, and conflicts between herders and farmers in the north-central region. While religion has played a role, this violence is often intertwined with other underlying drivers, including ethnic tensions, economic pressures, and territorial disputes.
According to witness testimony, Islamist insurgencies continue to drive insecurity in north-east Nigeria. The Islamist militant group Boko Haram and other jihadist groups conduct attacks that target civilians and have devastated communities. Witnesses noted that these groups have targeted both Muslim and Christian civilians and that Boko Haram’s ideology makes little distinction between the two. The groups remain active and continue to pose a severe threat to communities across the region, intensifying existing tensions by inserting extremist ideologies and tactics.
Banditry in Nigeria’s north-west and north-central regions has also intensified into a major security crisis in recent years, witnesses reported. Armed groups conduct rapid attacks creating cycles of kidnapping, extortion, and violence against civilians, severely disrupting daily life and access to essential services. For example, days after the Subcommittee’s meeting on insecurity in Nigeria, The Associated Press reported that unidentified gunmen had abducted 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from a Catholic school in the Nigerian state of Niger. It is unknown what group was responsible for the abductions.
Finally, the Subcommittee was informed that violence between farming and herding communities has escalated into a major security challenge, particularly in Nigeria’s north-central region. As nomadic Fulani herders, who are predominantly Muslim, move southward in search of pasture due to climate-related land pressures, clashes with farming communities have intensified existing ethnic and religious divisions. The resulting attacks have caused significant loss of life, the destruction of entire villages, and mass displacement across affected regions.
In addition to violent attacks, witnesses highlighted that Christians in northern Nigeria face systemic discrimination through institutional and legal practices. In the 12 northern states that have implemented Sharia law, these practices often disadvantage Christian communities, including restrictions on certain jobs and prolonged detention for alleged blasphemy.
Witnesses spoke of potential measures that could address the violence in Nigeria. Their suggestions centred on governmental accountability, strengthened governance and security, humanitarian support, and diplomatic engagement.
- Kinga Schierstaedt, Head of Section for Nigeria at Aid to the Church in Need, highlighted that impunity is worsening the crisis. She noted that perpetrators rarely face justice and that, according to local reports, the government has not done enough to address systematic discrimination or stop the killings.
- Oge Onubogu, Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, recommended that Nigeria strengthen its local policing system to improve security at the community level.
- Mohammed Usman, of the Association of Nigerians in Nanaimo, stated that immediate and sustained support is required for victims of the widespread violence. He called for increases in humanitarian support for NGOs assisting displaced Christians and other victims, particularly women, children, and trauma survivors.
- Reverend Dr. Andrew Bennett from the Religious Freedom Institute recommended that Global Affairs Canada engage with local faith-based civil society organizations in Nigeria to identify and respond to root causes of persecution, and introduce training programs on religion and foreign relations for Canadian diplomats.
Finally, several witnesses emphasized that addressing the situation in Nigeria requires an understanding of its complexity. They cautioned against framing the crisis as a simple conflict between groups and stressed that the broader context of insecurity affecting all communities must be considered. As Mohammed Usman noted:
The persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a serious and urgent human rights concern. I urge us all, though, not to oversimplify a very complex socio-political situation. Muslims, Christians and traditionalists are suffering under the same climate of insecurity. By addressing the persecution of Christians within this broader context, Canada can help promote justice, peace and human dignity for all affected Nigerians.
The members of the Subcommittee express their sincere thanks to the witnesses for their invaluable contributions. Your thoughtful insights and dedication are greatly appreciated. We commend your efforts to address the violence in Nigeria.
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