Apparently not done with re-designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), which is an official US designation for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom, the US establishment is processing further action –this time legislative –to sanction specific individuals it accuses of allegedly playing a role in persecution of Nigerian Christians and/or hindering the country’s constitutional secularity.
Posting on his Truth Social, weekend, President Donald Trump had condemned what he described as widespread attacks on Christians in Nigeria and directed key Congressional leaders such as Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole—to investigate urgently.
Trump also told the President Bola Tinubu administration to sit up immediately and rout armed Islamic fundamentalist groups urgently or he would order American troops to do so.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed in Nigeria. Radical Islamists are responsible,” Trump posted. “America cannot fold its hands while these atrocities continue.”
Titled ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025’, the proposed law, sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz (Texas), seeks to formalize Nigeria’s CPC status and mandate sanctions against officials accused of either supporting or failing to curb religiously-motivated violence. The latter include political, judicial, traditional leaders.
If passed, the US Secretary of State would have three months (90 days) to submit a list of Nigerian leaders allegedly connected to discriminatory practices or religiously-motivated attacks.
Those so named may face visa restrictions, asset freezes, and other penalties under the US’ Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The proposed statute zeroes in on far North states which amplified Sharia law into criminal justice, starting with Zamfara State in 1999. The state governor then was Alhaji Sani Yerima.
Following in the footsteps of Zamfara then were 11 other far North states: Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, and Jigawa which passed laws embracing similar Sharia codes, and in the process birthed dual legal systems alongside Nigeria’s civil courts.
However, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Adamawa states, largely in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, restrict Sharia to personal issues like marriage and inheritance.
The present governors of some of the listed states are: Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Umar Radda (Katsina) and others.
A recent alleged bid to extend Sharia to the mixed-faith South-West of Nigeria was stoutly resisted as members of the public and groups there sharply criticized the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria for attempting to establish offices in Oyo and Ogun States allegedly to that end. But, the Council later clarified that the offices were merely for mediation in inter-Muslim personal disputes and not for formal legal proceedings.
Addressing his fellow lawmakers, Senator Cruz said that Nigeria has allegedly failed to protect religious minorities.
He said: “Over 52,000 Christians have been murdered since 2009, more than 20,000 churches destroyed, and dozens of communities wiped out.”
The respected senator accused federal and state authorities of “complicity by omission or action.”
Furthermore, the proposed legislation cites several blasphemy-related prosecutions in Kano, Bauchi, Sokoto, and Katsina, including cases involving minors and showbiz personalities.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Ted Cruz.
