The ongoing allegations of targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria have drawn international attention, with US Senator Ted Cruz spearheading efforts to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials believed to be responsible for facilitating or ignoring the violence.
Cruz introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” proposing targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials accused of complicity in the mass murder of Christians. The bill also calls for the US Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to religious persecution and demands the continued designation of Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as entities of concern.
Reacting to the US lawmakers’ move, President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on Niger Delta and oil matters, Festus Onanuga, issued a stern warning to Senator Cruz. Onanuga insisted that Nigeria does not have a religious war and criticized the narrative pushed by foreign lawmakers, which he described as damaging to Nigeria's image and peace.
Onanuga emphasized that the federal government under President Tinubu has been working diligently to tackle insecurity and protect all Nigerians regardless of religion. He called for responsible reporting and cautioned against external interference that could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity.
The situation remains tense as the US Congress debates the bill amid evidence of escalating violence targeting Christians, especially in Nigeria's Middle Belt and Southeast regions. Human rights groups cite thousands of deaths and abductions by Islamist insurgents and militant herdsmen.
The Nigerian government continues to reject allegations of systematic persecution, framing the violence as complex security challenges rather than religious-ethnic conflicts.