Ted Cruz, a US senator, has proposed a bill that seeks to protect “persecuted” Christians in Nigeria.
Christened the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025’, the legislation seeks to hold Nigerian government officials accountable for “facilitating the mass murder of Christians”.
The proposed bill also calls for “targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials who enforce Sharia and blasphemy laws”; requires the “US secretary of state to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern”; and requires that “Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa remain designated as entities of particular concern”.
Cruz introduced the bill in early September, just weeks before President Donald Trump signed a memo labelling views leaning towards anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity as domestic terrorism.
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The development comes amid growing fears globally about “rising anti-Christian” behaviours in Nigeria.
But the federal government has repeatedly rejected the claims.
On Friday, Cruz doubled down on the need for his bill, insisting that it is vital in addressing the concerns.
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The lawmaker was reacting to reports that more than 5,000 people had fled Borno state into neighbouring Cameroon after Boko Haram militants captured the border town of Kirawa.
“Officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists,” Cruz alleged.
“It’s time to hold those responsible accountable. My Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act would target these officials with powerful sanctions and other tools.”
A legislative impasse has forced a US government shutdown, leaving Congress momentarily paralysed and stalling Cruz’s proposal.
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