United States Senator Ted Cruz has called on the White House to impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian government officials and 12 state governments that enforce Sharia and blasphemy laws, which he believes are used to persecute Christians in Nigeria.
Senator Cruz praised President Donald Trump for reinstating Nigeria's designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a designation that was removed by the Biden administration.
He recalled how President Trump in his first term, designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, but regretted Joe Biden administration came and removed it.
"Unfortunately, Joe Biden came into office and immediately removed them from the list, removed pressures, removed sanctions, basically turned a blind eye while radical Islamic terrorists slaughtered Christians in Nigeria," Cruz said.
"When President Trump was reelected, I have been leading the efforts urging the president to designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
"Last Friday the president did so, I am very grateful that the president did so. It's the right thing to do."
Cruz has introduced legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on government officials who facilitate or condone violence against Christians.
"I have also introduce legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on the particular government officials who are responsible for looking the other way, responsible for facilitating or condoning this mass slaughter, and specifically, 12 State government within Nigeria enforced sharia law and enforced blasphemy laws and the federal government also criminalizes blasphemy nationwide.
"These are used to persecute Christians, and these government officials are complicit in the mass murder," he said.
"So, I'm urging the White House and the administration to use our sanctioning tools to target and incentivise these government officials to stop the mass murder that is occurring in Nigeria."
The proposed sanctions could result in visa bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions for those found culpable. Cruz's efforts are backed by legislation that would compel the US to impose targeted sanctions on officials enforcing Sharia or blasphemy laws.
Influence Media earlier reported that Trump again said the United States would not stand by while "Christians are being killed" in Nigeria, despite widespread reactions from the Nigerian government debunking the claim.
In a speech posted by the White House and seen by Influence Media, Trump again reiterated that he has designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over what he described as large-scale killings of Christians, and warned that Washington could cut aid or even take military action if the violence continues.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria, thousands and thousands of Christians are being killed, radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a country of particular concern, that is a legal definition,” Trump wrote in a social-media post.
He drew attention to global figures and urged rapid action from U.S. lawmakers. “When the Christians or any such group is slaughtered like it's happening in Nigeria 3100 Vs 4476 Worldwide, what horrible numbers.”
Trump called on members of Congress to move quickly, singling out appropriations leaders.
“Something has to be done, I am asking Congressman Riley Moore together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee to immediately look into this matter to report back to me, I mean like immediately.”
He added that the United States could intervene to protect religious minorities. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and other countries. It's not only in Nigeria, it's all over. We are able and willing to defend Christians, the killing of Christians, it is not going to happen.”
The Nigerian government has rejected the characterisation and pushed back against the claim that the violence amounts to targeted genocide, saying the country's constitution protects all faiths and that security challenges affect communities across religious lines.
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