The United States lawmaker, Senator Ted Cruz, has re-echoed his position on the persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria, saying, there is a link between sharia laws and practices and the violence targeted at non-muslims in parts of the North and Middle-belt.
Senator Cruz who has been an outspoken critic of Nigeria’s handling of religious freedom, blamed the Nigerian government for creating the enabling environment that allows the persecution and killing of Christians in the country.
Reacting to the African Union Commission Chairman, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who dismissed the genocide allegations while speaking with reporters at the United Nations headquarters, Mr Cruz in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, accused the Nigerian government of fostering an unsafe environment for religious minorities.
“Nigerian officials know their policies have created an environment in which Christians are being persecuted and slaughtered, including their enforcement of sharia law and their tolerance of Islamist violence.”
The senator’s comments followed concerns by international human rights groups over attacks on Christian communities, especially in parts of northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.
But the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected the accusations, insisting that both Christian and Muslim were being targeted by the violence.
Officials have also argued that the government is investing heavily in security and working to address extremism.
