Lagos: U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has sparked controversy by asserting that Nigeria is witnessing “Christian mass murder,” urging Congress to designate the West African nation as a violator of religious freedom. The Nigerian government has strongly rejected these claims as inaccurate, while data and analysts suggest a more nuanced reality.
Cruz, a Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a bill last month seeking to classify Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” a designation previously applied to nations such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. Such a label could pave the way for U.S. sanctions. Cruz’s statements have been echoed by certain celebrities and commentators, with some going so far as to allege a “Christian genocide,” though no substantiated evidence supports these assertions. His office has not responded to inquiries regarding the motivation behind these allegations.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 220 million people, is nearly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The nation has long been plagued by insecurity, driven by a mix of extremist violence, communal conflicts, and resource disputes. The extremist group Boko Haram, for instance, has targeted both Christians and Muslims, reflecting the complex drivers of violence rather than a single religious motive.
Analysts emphasize that attacks in Nigeria are often intertwined with ethnic, regional, and economic tensions. In the north-central and northwestern regions, clashes frequently occur between predominantly Christian farming communities and Fulani herders, who are mainly Muslim. Both Christian and Muslim groups have, at times, alleged “genocide” during these conflicts, though experts caution that such claims oversimplify the multifaceted security landscape.
Joseph Hayab, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna, one of the hardest-hit states, rejected the notion of a “Christian genocide.” He acknowledged that thousands of Christians have died in violent incidents over the years but stressed that “things have been better than what they were before,” emphasizing that each death remains a tragedy.
Nigeria’s Information Minister, Idris Muhammed, echoed this stance, stating to The Associated Press that “there is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion.”
Historical context also paints a more complex picture. Nigeria was previously designated a “country of particular concern” by the U.S. in 2020 due to systemic violations of religious freedom, affecting both Christians and Muslims. This designation was lifted in 2023 as part of diplomatic efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
Data from the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) program supports a broader understanding of the violence. Between January 2020 and September 2025, Nigeria saw 11,862 attacks resulting in 20,409 civilian deaths. Of these, 385 attacks targeted Christians specifically, causing 317 deaths, while 196 attacks targeted Muslims, resulting in 417 fatalities. Ladd Serwat, ACLED’s senior Africa analyst, noted that “Nigeria’s large population and vast geographic differences make it impossible to speak of religious violence as motivating all the violence.”
Experts caution against labeling the ongoing violence as genocide. The U.N. convention defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a religious, national, ethnic, or racial group. Olajumoke Ayandele, an assistant professor at New York University specializing in conflict studies, said, “What we are witnessing is mass killings, which are not targeted against a specific group. Drumming up claims of genocide could worsen the situation by putting everyone on edge.”
Chidi Odinkalu, a Tufts University law professor and former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, stressed that while the allegations of genocide are misleading, the Nigerian government must still address the widespread violence to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.
In the midst of the debate, the Christian Association of Nigeria has reiterated its longstanding concern over attacks on Christians while acknowledging that the broader insecurity affects both religious communities. The situation underscores the need for careful analysis and measured responses in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.