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 in Nigeria. 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. Seven thousand Christians were massacred this year alone and the faithful must now meet in secret or in burned-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. We must speak out and shine a light on what is happening so that people can donate to relief efforts and provide support to those displaced by the violence.
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, we know they know the power of prayer. We will not forget them. Stay strong and keep the faith.