Cruz introduces sanctions bill amid dispute with Nigeria
Sen. Ted Cruz (R‑Texas) introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act on Oct. 7, 2025, proposing targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials he says have ignored or facilitated attacks that have killed Christians; Nigerian government spokesmen publicly rejected Cruz’s figures—calling them "malicious, contrived lies"—while advocacy groups and Open Doors data cited by the article offer differing casualty counts for recent periods. The clash raises diplomatic and policy questions about potential U.S. sanctions and congressional action toward Nigeria.
Politics
International
Religion
📌 Key Facts
- Sen. Ted Cruz publicly said 'since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred' and that 'over 20,000 churches and Christian schools have been destroyed.'
- Cruz introduced the 'Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act' to target officials 'with powerful sanctions and other tools.'
- Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga and Information Minister Mohammed Idris issued on‑the‑record denials, calling the claims false and asserting religious harmony; Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List is cited noting Nigeria accounted for 3,100 of 4,476 reported Christian deaths in the most recent reporting period.