US Senators Urge Nigeria’s CPC Redesignation Amid Surge in Religious Violence

Five US Senators, led by Ted Budd, Pete Ricketts, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, and James Lankford, have formally written to demand the Secretary of State re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Their request follows a series of violent incidents, including mass abductions by al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansaru, large-scale killings in Benue and Niger states, and continued targeting of Christian communities by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

The senators referenced the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) recommendations and highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the CPC list in 2021, which they argue failed to confront the persistent religious violence and legal persecution in the country. Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, proposing targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials complicit in religious persecution and the enforcement of blasphemy laws.

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Recent reports indicate that over 7,000 Christians have been killed and thousands abducted in 2025 alone, adding to a decade-long toll and widespread destruction of churches and faith-based institutions. Twelve Nigerian states and federal authorities continue to enforce blasphemy laws against Christians, Muslims, and traditional practitioners, while government reaction to extremist violence has been criticized as insufficient and delayed.

The senators called for urgent international intervention to halt the unchecked attacks. They emphasized the continuing advocacy of President Trump and faith leaders for global religious freedom, urging legislative and diplomatic measures to protect religious minorities in Nigeria, including economic sanctions and restrictions on foreign aid.