United States Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill seeking sanctions against Nigerian officials accused of enabling attacks on Christians.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, calls for targeted sanctions on government officials said to have enforced Sharia and blasphemy laws.
It also urges Washington to classify Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” on religious freedom, and to retain Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa on its terror list.
Cruz, who tabled the bill in early September, claims Nigerian authorities are “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.”
His renewed push came after reports that more than 5,000 people fled Borno State into Cameroon following Boko Haram’s capture of the border town of Kirawa.
“It’s time to hold those responsible accountable,” the senator said. “My bill would target these officials with powerful sanctions and other tools.”
The proposal comes amid a partial shutdown of the US government, which has stalled further legislative action.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations of systematic religious persecution, insisting that its security challenges are not faith-driven.
