US Senator Ted Cruz has alleged that Nigerian officials are complicit in violence against Christians, citing large-scale killings and destruction of religious institutions.
US Senator Ted Cruz has alleged that some Nigerian officials are complicit in facilitating violence against Christians, claiming widespread killings and destruction of religious institutions in the country.
Cruz made the remarks on Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing titled ‘The US approach to counterterrorism in Africa’. In his submission, he stated that “more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world”. He further alleged that “Since 2009, Islamic jihadists have murdered more than 50,000 Christians in Nigeria and more than 20,000 churches, schools, and religious institutions have been destroyed, most burned to the ground,” adding that “Nigerian officials had been, unfortunately, complicit in facilitating these atrocities.”
The lawmaker also blamed the implementation of Sharia law in several northern states as a factor driving the violence, and said the US government had identified officials at both local and federal levels allegedly involved. He added that those found culpable would be held accountable as part of broader US counterterrorism efforts in Africa.
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