U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has accused the Nigerian government of creating conditions that enable the persecution and killing of Christians across the country.
In a post on X, the Texas lawmaker criticised Nigerian authorities, alleging that government policies—particularly the enforcement of Sharia law in some northern states and what he described as tolerance of Islamist violence—have contributed to rising attacks on Christian communities.
“Nigerian officials know their policies have created an environment in which Christians are being persecuted and slaughtered, including their enforcement of sharia law and their tolerance of Islamist violence,” Cruz wrote.
His remarks follow a statement by African Union Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who dismissed allegations of genocide in northern Nigeria while addressing journalists at the United Nations. Youssouf insisted that the crisis in the region does not equate to genocide and noted that many victims of Boko Haram are Muslims. He warned that the complex nature of the violence not be simplified.
International organisations such as Open Doors, Amnesty International, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have repeatedly raised concerns over continued attacks on Christian communities, especially in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.
Cruz, a long-time critic of Nigeria’s handling of religious freedom issues, has previously urged Washington to apply stronger pressure on Abuja, including reconsidering Nigeria’s removal from the U.S. list of Countries of Particular Concern in 2021.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of religious persecution, maintaining that the violence stems from criminality, banditry, and farmer–herder clashes rather than targeted attacks on Christians. Officials also say the government is investing heavily in security and combating extremism nationwide.
