US Senator Ted Cruz has commended President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to severe religious freedom violations, particularly against Christians.
Cruz is currently spearheading the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a bill aimed at protecting Christians and other religious minorities from persecution in Nigeria.
Cruz stressed the need to hold Nigerian officials accountable for their actions, promising to publicly identify those responsible in the coming weeks.
He has been pushing for legislation to designate Nigeria as a CPC and impose sanctions on officials who facilitate Islamist jihadist violence and enforce discriminatory blasphemy laws.
Cruz thanked Trump for his leadership in imposing the CPC designation and for fighting to stop the murder of Christians in Nigeria.
The designation comes after Trump’s warning of possible military action in Nigeria if its leaders fail to protect Christians in the country.
The US has also threatened to cut aid and impose sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of promoting or tolerating violence against Christians and other religious minorities.
Diaspora Digital Media reported that President Trump over the weekend, declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians.
In a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, brash and tough talking American leader, said Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria, describing the alleged killing as a “mass slaughter.”
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.
The US president added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.