Ted Cruz, a United States Senator, has reaffirmed his support for the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and the imposition of sanctions on Nigerian officials allegedly linked to the persecution of Christians in the country.
In a post shared on his official X handle (formerly Twitter), the Republican senator stated that he has been “pushing legislation to designate Nigeria a CPC and to impose sanctions on the Nigerian officials responsible.”
Cruz thanked President Donald Trump for what he described as “leadership in imposing the designation, and more broadly, for fighting to stop the murder of Christians in Nigeria.”
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He further disclosed plans to name specific Nigerian officials he believes should be held accountable for the alleged persecution.
“Now we should take the next step and hold Nigerian officials accountable. I intend to be very explicit about who they are in the coming days and weeks,” Cruz wrote.
The U.S. lawmaker’s statement follows renewed debate in Washington over Nigeria’s human rights record and the Biden administration’s 2021 decision to remove the country from the CPC list, which had been reinstated under Trump in 2020.
It was learnt that human rights groups and Christian advocacy organisations in the U.S. have repeatedly urged Washington to restore Nigeria’s CPC designation, citing increasing attacks on Christian communities and the government’s perceived inaction.
Nigerian government has denied allegations of religious persecution, insisting that the violence affecting parts of the country stems from banditry, terrorism, and resource conflicts rather than religious motives.
