A senior United States senator, Ted Cruz, has claimed that American authorities are monitoring certain Nigerian officials allegedly linked to terrorism, following the recent killings in Plateau State.
Reacting to the Palm Sunday attack in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos, Cruz accused some government actors of enabling an environment where violence against Christians persists.
In a post shared on X and seen by ENigeria Newspaper, he said the US is aware of individuals allegedly connected to such activities.
“Those officials should know that the US knows who they are, and has the tools to hold them accountable”, he wrote.
“Another slaughter of Christians in Nigeria by jihadists, this time on Palm Sunday. Nigerian government officials have created an environment in which Christians are routinely persecuted and slaughtered,” Cruz stated, linking the situation to policies such as the implementation of Sharia law in parts of northern Nigeria.
His comments came amid widespread outrage over the Plateau killings, which have drawn international attention and renewed concerns over insecurity in the region.
Also weighing in, fellow US lawmaker Riley Moore described the attack as “sickening and unacceptable,” alleging that the victims were targeted during a religious observance. He warned that failure by Nigerian authorities to strengthen security ahead of Easter celebrations could have implications for bilateral relations between both countries.
Moore further urged the Nigerian government to take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence, stressing that continued attacks on religious groups could deepen tensions and attract international consequences.
The US lawmakers’ remarks heighten international attention to Nigeria’s security crisis, especially in Plateau State, where frequent violence has killed numerous people in recent years. In the past, the US has taken a strong stand against religious violence in Nigeria.
Recall that Nigeria was named a “Country of Particular Concern” under Donald Trump’s current administration due to alleged abuses of religious freedom, and the US government threatened to go “guns-ablazing” if the issue was not investigated.
