The debate over religious persecution and security in Nigeria has once again taken center stage, sparked by international commentary and local reactions that reveal the deep complexities of the nation’s situation. Over the past week, allegations from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher about systematic violence against Christians in Nigeria have reignited a fierce exchange with Nigerian officials and prominent voices within the country. Meanwhile, the persistent threat of banditry and violence has drawn urgent calls for action from political leaders such as former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who warns that insecurity has reached crisis levels.
On Friday, October 3, 2025, Texas Senator Ted Cruz took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to allege that Nigerian officials are “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.” Cruz went further, promoting his Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which he said would impose sanctions and other measures on those deemed responsible. According to Cruz, “It’s time to hold those responsible accountable.”
These claims echoed sentiments voiced by American comedian and talk show host Bill Maher, who, on his program, asserted, “I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009. They’ve burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram.” Maher’s comments, comparing the situation in Nigeria to the conflict in Gaza and suggesting an attempted genocide, have only added fuel to an already heated discussion.
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has strongly rejected these allegations, asserting that the administration has remained neutral on religious matters and is committed to upholding the rights and safety of all citizens, regardless of faith. Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, was direct in his response to Cruz, stating unequivocally that Nigeria is not engaged in any religious war. According to Onanuga, the government’s record speaks for itself, particularly in the diversity of its appointments and its outreach to all faith communities.
“Very far from the truth,” Onanuga said, referencing Maher’s and Cruz’s comments. He pointed to the fact that, despite initial fears over President Tinubu’s decision to run on a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 elections, the administration has included Christians in several key positions. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Navy Chief, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria are all Christians. “We got more than we worked and bargained for; the truth must be told,” Onanuga added, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to fairness and inclusion.
The issue of religious identity in Nigerian politics is sensitive and historically charged. The selection of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by Tinubu’s campaign was met with considerable anxiety among Christian communities, with some prominent Christian politicians openly backing opposition candidates. Even the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, described feeling isolated in her church due to her husband’s political decision, calling it a “bitter pill” that split her parish and tested her faith, as revealed in her recent book, The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things.
Yet, more than two years into Tinubu’s administration, many of those initial fears have not been realized. In fact, according to several Christian leaders, the community has “never had it this good, even when we had a Christian President.” Reverend Dr. Amos Mohzo, President and Spiritual Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), publicly thanked President Tinubu for supporting Northern Christians and appointing them to critical government roles.
President Tinubu’s relationship with the Christian community is not new. In 2000, as Lagos State Governor, he initiated the Lagos Annual State Thanksgiving, a tradition held every first Sunday of the year to celebrate the achievements of the state and promote unity beyond religious divides. He has repeatedly emphasized the need to rise above religious bigotry, telling a delegation of Catholic Bishops, “For Nigeria itself to develop, it must be above religious bigotry.”
At the funeral service for Mama Lydia Goshwe Yilwatda, mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Tinubu called for Nigerians to eschew religious division. “We believe in freedom of religion; what matters most is our love for one another,” he said. “Hate is not an option. We must continue to build a Nigeria where peace and love thrive.” In Owerri, the President further asserted, “Here, no faith is under siege, and no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side—not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us.”
Despite these reassurances, the reality on the ground is grim. Attacks by armed groups continue to claim lives across the country, with no religious community spared. In August 2025, gunmen stormed a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, Katsina State, killing about 25 worshippers. The following month, bandits attacked a mosque in Yandoto, Zamfara State, killing five and abducting 20 others. These incidents underscore that violence in Nigeria is not confined to any one faith.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, in a post on his verified X account on October 5, 2025, lamented the worsening security situation, particularly in Kogi and Kwara states. “I am deeply disturbed by the tragic reports of yet another senseless attack in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi state, where over 27 innocent Nigerians were killed by armed bandits,” Obi wrote. He highlighted that nine out of 16 Local Government Areas in Kwara state are under siege, with bandits demanding food and drinks as ransom. “The security situation is now a national emergency. It is deeply troubling that insecurity has become a normal occurrence in our nation, where our citizens die daily more than in countries at war. This is not normal.”
Obi’s comments reflect a broader concern among Nigerians that insecurity—whether motivated by religion, politics, or criminality—has reached intolerable levels. He stressed that the most basic duty of any government is to protect lives and property, and called for urgent action to restore safety and order.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Presidency has accused Senator Cruz of using the issue of religious freedom in Nigeria to divert attention from his own domestic challenges, suggesting that foreign interests are funding groups to influence U.S. policy on Nigeria. This accusation, reported by Premium Times, further complicates the already fraught relationship between Nigeria and some of its international critics.
As Nigeria grapples with these intersecting crises, one thing is clear: the violence afflicting the country is not limited to any single religious group. Both Christians and Muslims have suffered devastating losses at the hands of armed groups, and the government’s response—while inclusive in rhetoric and appointments—faces the monumental task of restoring security and rebuilding trust among all communities. The challenge, as President Tinubu and Peter Obi both acknowledge in their own ways, is to foster unity and peace in a nation where faith, politics, and survival are deeply intertwined.
As the debate continues both within Nigeria and on the international stage, the voices of those affected by violence and insecurity remain a sobering reminder of the urgent need for solutions that transcend rhetoric and deliver real safety for all Nigerians.