Catholic Priest Backs U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s “Christian Genocide” revelations in Nigeria

Awka, Anambra – October 16, 2025

A Catholic priest in Anambra State has publicly backed U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s statement that Nigerian officials are “ignoring and even facilitating” the mass killing of Christians by Islamist militants, reigniting global debate over religious persecution in Africa’s most populous nation.

Reverend Father Emefiena Ezeani told TruthNigeria that Senator Cruz “Yes, Senator Ted Cruz is right to say that Government officials in Nigeria are ignoring the killing of Christians by Islamic Jihadists, and they are also complicit in the act of Terrorism”.

The priest’s remarks came after Cruz posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists,” a statement that sparked diplomatic tension between Abuja and Washington.

Cruz’s comments follow his support for the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which seeks sanctions against Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in religious persecution. The statement has drawn applause amongst the ordinary Nigerian, however across Nigeria’s religious and political spectrum the reaction has been mixed.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Daniel Okoh, acknowledged that Christian communities have suffered repeated attacks, killings, and church burnings, urging stronger protection and accountability from security agencies. In his statement, Nigerian Christians “are being forced to submit to sharia law and blasphemy laws across Nigeria. It is long past time to impose real costs on the Nigerian officials who facilitate these activities…”

In contrast, government officials dismissed allegations of Christian Genocide as “misleading and reckless,” arguing that violence in the country’s north and Middle Belt is complicated, not state-backed religious persecution. The Nigerian Senate has since formed an ad-hoc committee to convince U.S. lawmakers and prevent possible diplomatic or economic fallout.

Independent reports confirm that over 100 thousand Nigerians have died in violent attacks by groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and more than 5 other Fulani terrorist organizations over the past decade, with civilians Christian mainly targeted, and moderate Muslims either forced to join or killed.

Casualty figures cited by Peoples Chronicles puts displaced Christians since 2009, in the excess of 15 million, with more than 19,000 churches destroyed, prompting rights groups and international observers to call for a transparent investigation into the scale and nature of the killings.

A recent report by Open Doors International reveals that Nigeria alone accounts for nearly 70% of Christians who were killed for their faith in 2024, sparking global outrage.

Father Ezeani’s support for Cruz underscores the growing frustration among Nigerians who accuse the government of silence amid persistent insecurity.