U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has ignited a contentious debate by urging Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom, alleging ‘Christian mass murder’ without substantiated evidence. The Nigerian government has firmly dismissed these claims as baseless. Cruz, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a bill last month seeking to label Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ due to alleged ‘severe violations’ of religious freedom. Such a designation could lead to U.S. sanctions. However, the bill’s passage remains uncertain as it awaits Senate action. Cruz’s assertions have been echoed by some U.S. celebrities and commentators, with some even alleging a ‘Christian genocide,’ though no evidence has been provided. Cruz’s office has not responded to inquiries about the motivation behind these allegations. Nigeria, with a population of 220 million, is nearly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The country has long grappled with insecurity from various groups, including Boko Haram, which targets both Muslims and Christians. Analysts emphasize that the majority of victims in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north are Muslims, not Christians. While religiously motivated attacks occur, they are part of a broader spectrum of violence, including farmer-herder conflicts and ethnic clashes. Joseph Hayab, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, refuted claims of ‘Christian genocide,’ noting that while thousands of Christians have been killed, the situation has improved compared to previous years. Nigeria’s Information Minister, Idris Muhammed, stated that there is no systematic or intentional targeting of any religious group. Nigeria was previously designated a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ by the U.S. in 2020, but this was lifted in 2023 to improve bilateral relations. The Christian Association of Nigeria has acknowledged the persecution of Christians but emphasized that violence affects both religious groups. Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data program shows that between January 2020 and September 2023, 20,409 deaths resulted from 11,862 attacks on civilians in Nigeria, with 317 Christian deaths and 417 Muslim deaths recorded in religion-targeted attacks. Analysts argue that Nigeria’s complex security dynamics do not meet the legal definition of genocide, which requires intent to destroy a specific group. Instead, they describe the violence as mass killings not targeted at any particular group. Experts warn that framing the crisis as genocide could exacerbate tensions and hinder efforts to address the root causes of violence.
A US senator claims ‘Christian mass murder’ is occurring in Nigeria. The data disagrees
