Senator Ted Cruz is right to raise the alarm. For too long, the world has turned a blind eye to the horrific violence against Christians in Nigeria. Since 2009, over 50,000 Christians have been murdered, and thousands of churches and Christian schools have been destroyed. That’s not just a tragedy—it’s a crisis of religious freedom that should concern every American who values life, liberty, and the God-given rights of all people.
Yet, instead of confronting the problem, the Nigerian government chooses to deny it. Officials claim Senator Cruz is spreading “careless rhetoric” and insist the violence isn’t about religion. But the facts say otherwise.
According to Open Doors, a respected international Christian watchdog, Nigeria is the most dangerous country in the world for Christians. Last year alone, 3,100 Christians were killed there—two-thirds of all Christians killed for their faith worldwide. That is not a coincidence. That is targeted persecution.
Some argue that Muslims are also victims of violence in Nigeria, and that’s true. Radical Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Fulani militants attack anyone who won’t bow to their extremist ideology. But here’s the key difference: Christians are being singled out, hunted down, and killed specifically because of their faith. Their churches are burned, their schools destroyed, and their children kidnapped. This is not random violence. It is a war against Christianity.
Senator Cruz understands this reality, and he refuses to stay silent. That’s why he introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025. This bill would hold Nigeria accountable for failing to protect its Christian citizens and would ensure that U.S. aid doesn’t go to a government that turns a blind eye to religious persecution. It’s a necessary step—and one long overdue.
Critics in Nigeria’s government may not like hearing the truth, but America has a moral duty to speak it. Our nation was founded on religious liberty. The First Amendment protects the right of every person to worship freely, and that principle doesn’t stop at our borders. When Christians are massacred for their faith, we must speak up. When churches are burned and believers are slaughtered, we must act.
This isn’t about interfering in another country’s politics. It’s about defending human rights—God-given rights—that every person deserves. And it’s about standing with our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering simply because they refuse to deny their faith.
Senator Cruz is doing what strong leaders do: he’s shining a light on evil and demanding action. He’s not afraid of being politically incorrect. He’s not waiting for the mainstream media to care. He’s standing up for the truth, even when it’s unpopular.
And let’s not forget—this isn’t the first time Cruz has defended religious freedom. Over the years, he’s fought to protect Christians in the Middle East, to defend religious expression here in America, and to hold foreign governments accountable when they trample on the rights of believers. His record is clear, and his voice is needed now more than ever.
The Biden administration may have ignored these issues in the past. But now, under President Trump’s leadership, America is returning to its founding values. We are once again putting faith, freedom, and truth at the center of our foreign policy. Cruz’s bill fits perfectly into that vision.
So let’s stand with Senator Cruz. Let’s pray for the persecuted church. And let’s demand that Congress pass the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act without delay.
Because if we won’t defend religious liberty abroad, how can we expect to keep it here at home?
