United States Senator Ted Cruz has accused Nigerian leaders of aiding the mass killing of Christians by Islamist extremists.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Cruz alleged that government officials in Nigeria are not only ignoring but in some cases facilitating the violence.
“Officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists,” the Texas lawmaker wrote.
Cruz said he is sponsoring a legislative measure titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which, according to him, would hold those responsible accountable.
“My Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act would target these officials with powerful sanctions and other tools,” he added.
The senator’s remarks come amid mounting reports of targeted attacks against Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern states, where churches and Christian communities have repeatedly been the focus of terrorist violence.
Just recently, terrorists killed a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Kwara State after abducting him and collecting a ₦5 million ransom.
The killing further underscores the vulnerability of Christian leaders and worshippers in parts of the country.
A new report also paints a grim picture of the scale of the crisis, stating that Nigeria has effectively become the “headquarters” and safe haven for 22 Islamic terror groups. According to the report, an average of 35 Christians are killed daily across the country.
Cruz, a Republican, has frequently raised concerns about international religious freedom and has called for the U.S. government to take a tougher stance on countries accused of persecution.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have similarly accused Nigerian authorities of failing to act decisively against extremist violence.
However, Bola Tinubu has denied that Christians are being persecuted on religious grounds, insisting that his government is committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
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