United States Senator Ted Cruz has put forward an accusation that Nigerian government figures are involved in attacks targeting Christians within the nation.
Senator Cruz voiced this assertion during a hearing by a US Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Tuesday, April 21, which focused on America's counterterrorism approach in Africa.
During the hearing, Cruz stated that Nigeria experiences the highest global toll of Christians killed due to their faith. He presented figures indicating that over 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009, with more than 20,000 churches, schools, and other religious structures reportedly destroyed.
"Unfortunately, Nigerian officials have been complicit in facilitating these atrocities," Cruz remarked.
He connected some of the ongoing violence to the implementation of Sharia law in specific northern states. Additionally, he criticised Nigerian authorities for what he described as a sluggish response to the nation's security challenges.
Cruz recounted a prior engagement with Nigerian defence and security officials, where he received assurances that the violence would be addressed. However, he noted that these promises have not yet yielded tangible outcomes.
"I informed them that I would assess their commitment based on the results. Those results are yet to be realised," he commented.
The senator also disclosed his introduction of the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 in October.
He explained that the bill aims to hold Nigerian government officials accountable for their alleged involvement in assaults on Christians.
During the proceedings, Cruz inquired of Nick Checker, a senior official from the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, whether consultations between Nigeria and the United States had led to substantial progress, particularly following actions initiated under former US President Donald Trump.
In his response, Checker indicated that Nigeria had demonstrated a degree of cooperation with the United States.
"We have observed some positive developments, including leadership changes within Nigerian security services, the enlistment of additional troops, and the deployment of forest guards to areas impacted by conflict," he stated.
He further mentioned an increase in the prosecution of individuals suspected of terrorism.
Checker added that recent support provided by the United States to Nigerian security forces underscores the ongoing collaboration between the two nations.
"We have seen commendable steps taken by the Nigerians, though certainly, further action is possible," Checker commented, adding that the US would persist in advocating for additional measures.
In a related development, Nigeria's former Minister of Information under President Muhammadu Buhari, Lai Mohammed, stated in the United Kingdom on April 22 that Boko Haram has killed more Muslims than Christians.
While responding to questions from students at Abbey College in Cambridge, the former minister asserted that narratives of a "Christian genocide" in Nigeria are inaccurate.
"The developed world should show more understanding. Currently, people are claiming religious persecution and genocide against Christians in Nigeria. This is untrue; it is fake news," he said.
He added, "Nigeria, as a nation, faces challenges that will not be resolved through genocide against any religion."
He explained that Boko Haram initially emerged as a movement targeting Muslims who embraced Western education, noting that early casualties were predominantly Muslim.
"In the initial phase, the majority of Boko Haram's victims were Muslims, not Christians. Boko Haram began as an uprising by extremist Muslims against mainstream Muslims like myself.
"Consider the meaning of Boko Haram – 'haram' signifies forbidden or illicit, while 'boko' refers to Western education. Therefore, according to Boko Haram's ideology, I, Lai Mohammed, having received an education, am an adversary.
"They realised that Muslims killing one another did not generate widespread outcry. When Muslims began attacking Christians, it provoked outrage. This is the unvarnished truth," he stated.
The former minister also refuted claims that religious motivations drive banditry in Nigeria, characterising it instead as a criminal enterprise that affects individuals of the same ethnic and religious backgrounds.
He maintained that available records indicate Muslims constitute the largest group of victims in insurgent attacks across Nigeria.
He elaborated, "The bandits are Muslims; they are Hausa-Fulanis. Their victims are also Muslims, predominantly Hausa-Fulanis. Therefore, how can one attribute this to religion? It has no connection to religious beliefs.
"We possess a spirit of religious tolerance in Nigeria, and I challenge anyone to dispute this fact. Individuals may exploit any pretext to commit crimes, but firstly, it is not a state policy. Secondly, the average Nigerian is indifferent to one's religion or ethnicity.
"In Nigeria, the typical Muslim and Christian find common ground, primarily disagreeing over financial matters rather than theological issues. Their primary concerns revolve around the economy and their way of life. This is why many Christians marry Muslims and vice versa.
"Consequently, this narrative of Christian genocide is false, and we must vigorously counter it through public communication."
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