By Solomon Asuquo
United States Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has re-ignited global attention on Nigeria’s worsening religious freedom crisis with the introduction of the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025.
Announcing the bill on October 20, Senator Cruz said the legislation aims to hold Nigerian officials accountable for “systematic persecution” of Christians and other religious minorities across the country.
“Nigerian state and federal officials have created an environment that facilitates mass violence by downplaying or ignoring these atrocities,” Cruz said on X (formerly Twitter).
“They continue to do so through a public campaign of denial and by enforcing blasphemy and sharia laws, which further endanger vulnerable communities.”
According to Cruz, the United States cannot “stand idly by” while religious persecution in Nigeria worsens, adding that Washington must use diplomatic and economic tools to pressure the Nigerian government to act.
Unprecedented Levels of Violence
Cruz cited alarming statistics in his series of posts, claiming that more Christians are killed specifically for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world.
“Since 2009, Islamist jihadists have massacred over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria and destroyed more than 20,000 churches, schools, and other Christian institutions,” he said.
He referenced reports by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and Open Doors, all of which have warned that Nigeria’s human rights situation “has not improved” and that violence against Christians is escalating.
Cruz also quoted a recent statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which decried the continuing “severe attacks, loss of life, and destruction of places of worship” in northern states.
Nigeria’s Response and Broader Implications
The Nigerian government has consistently denied claims of religious bias in its handling of insecurity, maintaining that extremist violence affects citizens of all faiths. Officials often argue that the country’s challenges are rooted in poverty, banditry, and terrorism rather than systematic religious persecution.
However, human rights organizations and local faith leaders have long accused authorities of failing to protect vulnerable communities or prosecute perpetrators of sectarian killings, particularly in the North-Central and North-West regions.
The new bill, if passed, could pave the way for targeted sanctions, visa bans, or restrictions on U.S. aid to Nigerian officials found complicit in religious persecution.
Global Concern over Nigeria’s Religious Crisis
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has been on the U.S. State Department’s Special Watch List for religious freedom violations multiple times over the past decade. Advocacy groups continue to warn that unchecked violence could further destabilize the region and worsen the humanitarian crisis, with thousands displaced and communities destroyed.
Cruz’s bill has sparked both support and debate in diplomatic circles, with some praising it as a bold step toward accountability, while others warn it could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations.
As of press time, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official statement in response to the senator’s remarks or the proposed legislation.
Editor’s Note
The Moment for Women stands for the protection of human rights, dignity, and freedom of religion and belief. We call on all governments to uphold justice and accountability for victims of violence and persecution in every nation.
