Nigerian officials of complicit in christian killings – Ted Cruz

United States Senator Ted Cruz has alleged that Nigerian officials are complicit in what he described as the “mass murder of Christians” in Nigeria, making the claim during a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

The hearing, titled “The US Approach to Counterterrorism in Africa,” focused on security challenges across the continent.

Cruz, in his remarks, said more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world, alleging that over 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and more than 20,000 churches, schools, and religious institutions destroyed.

“Since 2009, Islamic jihadists have murdered more than 50,000 Christians in Nigeria and more than 20,000 churches, schools, and religious institutions have been destroyed, most burned to the ground,” he said.

He further claimed that “Nigerian officials had been, unfortunately, complicit in facilitating these atrocities,” and accused authorities of failing to respond effectively to insecurity.

Cruz also criticised the implementation of Sharia law in some northern states, linking it to ongoing violence, and said he would assess Nigeria’s commitment to ending insecurity based on measurable outcomes.

“I told them I would judge their commitment by the results. Those results have yet to materialise,” he said, referring to a past meeting with Nigerian defence officials.

The senator also referenced his proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which seeks to hold Nigerian officials accountable for alleged religious persecution.

In response to questions during the hearing, a US State Department official, Nick Checker, said Nigeria had shown “some positive movements,” including security reforms and increased troop deployments.

He noted that Nigeria had recruited about 50,000 additional troops and deployed forest guards to parts of the Middle Belt affected by violence, adding that the US “welcomes Nigeria’s initial response” but expects further action.

Checker also referenced ongoing cooperation between both countries, including a high-level working group formed after meetings between Nigerian and US security officials earlier in the year.

He said the United States would continue to monitor developments closely and press for further improvements in Nigeria’s security response.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of religious genocide, insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by multiple factors, including terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes, rather than targeted religious persecution.

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