US senator Cruz accuses Nigerian officials of complicity in ‘Christian genocide’

UNITED States senator Ted Cruz has accused Nigerian government officials of being complicit in the killing of Christians across the country. The US lawmaker made the claim on Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing on ‘The US approach to counterterrorism in Africa.’

Speaking at the session, Cruz asserted that Nigeria accounts for the highest number of Christians killed for their faith globally. He claimed that since 2009, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed by jihadist groups, while over 20,000 churches, schools, and religious institutions have been destroyed.

The senator further alleged that some Nigerian officials have enabled these attacks, describing their role as ‘complicit’ in the violence. He also linked the crisis to the application of Sharia law in several northern states, which he said contributes to ongoing unrest.

Cruz added that the US government has identified officials at both federal and local levels who may be involved, noting that they would be held accountable. He also criticised Nigerian authorities for what he described as a slow response to worsening insecurity.

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Recounting a previous engagement, Cruz said he had met with a delegation of Nigerian defence and security officials last year who pledged to address the violence, but noted that the promised improvements have yet to be seen.

In October 2025, the senator introduced the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,’ a bill aimed at sanctioning Nigerian officials accused of facilitating attacks on Christians.

During the hearing, Cruz questioned Nick Checker on whether engagements between both countries had produced results following the redesignation of Nigeria by President Donald Trump over allegations of religious persecution.

Checker responded that Nigeria had shown a level of cooperation with the US since the designation. According to him, there had been steps such as leadership changes within the security services, recruitment of about 50,000 additional troops, and deployment of forest guards to the Middle Belt region, alongside increased prosecution of suspected terrorists.

He noted that Washington viewed these developments as encouraging early signs but maintained that more progress was needed. Checker also referenced a bilateral high-level working group established after talks between a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and a US team headed by Allison Hooker.

The US official added that continued support for Nigerian security forces underscored ongoing cooperation between both countries, stressing that the US would keep pressing for further action.