US Senator Ted Cruz has stated that Nigeria leads the world in Christians killed for their faith, alleging that some officials are complicit in the ongoing violence. In a video shared from a formal address, Cruz cited new data highlighting the scale of the crisis and renewed his call for stronger action against those enabling religious persecution.
His remarks come amid fresh statistics showing Nigeria accounts for the majority of Christians murdered globally for their beliefs.
According to the Open Doors World Watch List 2026, Nigeria recorded 3,490 of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for faith-related reasons in the reporting period ending September 2025. That figure represents approximately 72 percent of global Christian murders during the timeframe.
The violence has been largely attributed to attacks by armed groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa Province, particularly in northern and central regions of the country.
Cruz, who has consistently spoken out about religious persecution in Nigeria, described the situation as a humanitarian and human rights crisis. “Nigeria leads the world in Christians murdered for their faith,” he said during his remarks. He further alleged that certain government officials have failed to act decisively or have been complicit in allowing the violence to continue unchecked.
The senator has previously introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act in 2025, legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on Nigerian officials found to be enabling or ignoring religiously motivated violence.
Cruz argues that holding individuals accountable is necessary to pressure authorities into protecting vulnerable communities.
Open Doors, an international Christian advocacy organization, reports that attacks in Nigeria often involve raids on villages, church bombings, kidnappings, and targeted killings. The group says the violence has displaced thousands of families and created a climate of fear among Christian communities.
Separate reports indicate that more than 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in early 2025 alone, although figures vary depending on sources and verification methods.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of religious bias or complicity, stating that the violence is part of broader security challenges including terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes over land and resources. Officials maintain that security forces are working to restore order and combat insurgent groups across affected regions….See More
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