U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill mandating sanctions against Nigerian government officials who facilitate Islamist jihadist violence and blasphemy laws targeting the country’s Christian minority.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, legislation seeking to protect Christians and other religious minorities from persecution by Islamic militants. The bill directs the federal government to impose sanctions on the Nigerian government and officials “who facilitate Islamist jihadist violence and the imposition of blasphemy laws.” This move follows a devastating new report documenting that over 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first 220 days of this year alone. Since 2009, an estimated 125,000 Christians are among the 189,000 civilians killed.
Senator Cruz stated, “Nigerian Christians are being targeted and executed for their faith… It is long past time to impose real costs on the Nigerian officials who facilitate these activities.” The bill cites atrocities by groups like ISWAP and Fulani fighters, detailing attacks on villages and churches where attackers “burned homes [and] raped women.” Furthermore, NGOs report that government inaction is widespread, with one pastor asserting, “The Nigerian government claims to offer protection for Christians but when attacks occur… they often just watch the carnage unfold.” The legislation would require Nigeria to be designated a Country of Particular Concern, aiming to force accountability for the escalating crisis.
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