U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Riley Moore Demand Sanctions on Nigerian Officials Over Reported Christian Killings — Calls for Genocide Probe Intensify

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U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Riley Moore have intensified pressure on the Biden administration to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials, citing what they describe as “systematic persecution” and “mass killings” of Christians across Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt regions.

In statements shared via X (formerly Twitter), Senator Cruz asserted that over 50,000 Christians have been “massacred since 2009,” with 18,000 churches and 2,000 schools destroyed by extremist attacks. He vowed to ensure those responsible are held accountable, saying:

“It is the result of decisions made by specific people, in specific places, at specific times — and the United States knows who those people are. I intend to hold them accountable.”

Representative Moore, echoing similar concerns, claimed that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 alone, with high-profile incidents including the Ash Wednesday killing of a priest and the Palm Sunday massacre of 54 worshippers.

He urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reclassify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) — a designation that could pave the way for direct U.S. sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of complicity or negligence.

However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected the claims of a targeted Christian genocide, insisting that ongoing violence stems largely from banditry, terrorism, and intercommunal conflict, not religious persecution. CAN spokesperson Abimbola Ayuba argued that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of insecurity nationwide.

The push by U.S. lawmakers has sparked mixed reactions across diplomatic and social media circles. While many human rights advocates welcomed the renewed scrutiny, others warned that such sweeping claims could inflame religious tensions and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Analysts note that this latest development could strain Nigeria-U.S. relations, especially as the Tinubu administration continues to engage with Washington on counterterrorism and human rights cooperation.