United States Senator Ted Cruz has called on the White House to enforce specific sanctions on officials of the Nigerian government and 12 state governments that implement Sharia and blasphemy laws, saying these laws are being used to persecute Christians in the country.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, Senator Cruz praised President Donald Trump for reinstating Nigeria’s classification as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a categorization utilized by the U.S. State Department to identify nations accused of severe violations of religious liberty.
The classification, which had been removed under President Joe Biden, was restored last week following increasing pressure from advocates for religious freedom and conservative lawmakers in the U.S.
Cruz, a long-standing critic of the Biden administration’s foreign policy regarding religious rights, said the previous government “turned a blind eye” to what he described as the mass killing of Christians by extremist groups in northern Nigeria.
Cruz said: “Regrettably, Joe Biden took office and immediately removed Nigeria from the list.”
“He eased pressure, ended sanctions, and looked away while radical terrorists continued killing Christians.”
He added that President Trump’s renewed action was both “necessary and ethical.”
“When President Trump was re-elected, I spearheaded efforts urging him to reclassify Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Last Friday, he did so, and it was entirely the correct action to take.”
Senator Cruz revealed that he has introduced new legislation that seeks to impose visa prohibitions, freezing of assets, and financial restrictions on Nigerian officials and state governments accused of enforcing laws that violate religious freedom.
He said: “I’ve put forward a bill that would sanction those who are responsible for facilitating or tolerating these mass atrocities.”
“Twelve Nigerian states enforce Sharia law and blasphemy laws. These are being utilized to persecute Christians, and the officials involved are culpable.”
Cruz urged the White House to employ America’s “full range of sanctioning tools” to compel the Nigerian authorities to stop religious persecution.
He said: “These actions are not intended to penalize Nigeria, they are intended to encourage change and protect innocent lives.”
The renewed push for sanctions follows President Trump’s recent comments cautioning that the U.S. “will not remain passive while Christians are being killed” in Nigeria.
In an official statement released by the White House, Trump reaffirmed that Nigeria has been formally placed on the CPC list and warned that Washington could cut off aid or initiate military action if the violence persists.
Trump said: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.” “Thousands are being killed by radical Islamists. The United States will not condone these terrible acts.”
He also called on congressional leaders, including Representative Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, to immediately review U.S. assistance to Nigeria and provide feedback with suggestions.
Trump added: “The U.S. is prepared and capable of defending religious minorities. The killing of Christians will not continue while we are watching.”
The Nigerian government has rejected the U.S. accusations, saying they are founded on incorrect information and political bias. Officials in Abuja maintain that the ongoing violence in parts of the country results from criminal behavior, ethnic conflicts, and organized banditry, not religious persecution.
A government spokesperson said earlier: “The Nigerian Constitution assures freedom of worship and safeguards all faiths.” “The suggestion that there is an organized campaign of Christian mass killing is both untrue and unjust.”
Nigeria was first categorized as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 during President Trump’s initial term, due to reports of increasing attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The designation was removed under President Biden in 2021 during diplomatic efforts with Abuja.
Human rights groups and international observers have continued to issue warnings about the worsening safety conditions in northern Nigeria, where thousands of people have been killed or forced to leave their homes in attacks by armed factions.
Cruz’s proposed sanctions, if implemented, could represent one of the most significant escalations in the relationship between the U.S. and Nigeria in years.
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