U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has urged the American government to impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials following what he described as rising attacks on Christian communities across Nigeria.
Cruz made the call in a statement shared on his official X account on Monday. He accused Nigerian authorities of allowing a climate where violent attacks and mass killings occur without consequences.
He also praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for what he called “strong leadership” on the issue. Cruz noted that he had already introduced legislation seeking to formally designate Nigeria over what he described as “atrocities” committed against Christians.
The senator argued that the next step should be sanctioning officials who, according to him, have failed to protect vulnerable communities or prosecute those responsible for the violence.
His comments come amid heightened global concern over recurring violent attacks in parts of Nigeria, especially in areas affected by religious and communal tensions.
Human rights groups and religious organisations have repeatedly appealed for international intervention, claiming that the Nigerian government has not done enough to stop the violence. However, the Nigerian government has continued to deny claims of religious persecution, insisting that the country remains secular and that the insecurity is driven mainly by criminal activities, not targeted attacks on any faith.
Cruz’s renewed demand for punitive action adds fresh pressure on Nigerian authorities as international scrutiny grows.
His statement reads:
“Christians are being mass slaughtered in Nigeria.
Thank you to President Trump for his strong leadership and action in responding to this crisis.
I filed legislation to designate Nigeria for these atrocities, and the next steps are targeted sanctions on the government officials who create the environment for the mass murders and then fail to take action against the perpetrators.”
