Congressman Stutzman and Senator Cruz Address Christian Persecution in Nigeria
Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman from Indiana, alongside Senator Ted Cruz from Texas, is taking a stand to support Christians in Nigeria facing severe persecution and violence from jihadist groups.
Stutzman has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that mirrors Cruz’s legislation, known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Responsibility Act. This initiative aims to tackle what has been described as a “rapidly deteriorating” situation for Christians in Nigeria, given the alarming number of kidnappings, targeted attacks, and killings.
According to the details of the proposed legislation, the bill intends to impose specific sanctions on Nigerian officials who incite violence against religious minorities or enforce Sharia law. It would also classify Nigeria as a country of special concern and keep Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa on the list of designated concerns.
Stutzman emphasized the U.S. responsibility to uphold religious freedom globally, stating, “Enforcing Sharia law and allowing the killing of innocent people is barbaric.”
“To combat all forms of religious violence, we must leverage the targeted tools at our disposal,” he further remarked. He expressed pride in collaborating with Cruz on this vital legislation, which has the potential to bring real consequences for those enabling such violence and, ultimately, save countless lives of persecuted Christians.
Since the onset of Boko Haram’s insurgency in 2009, over 125,000 Christians have lost their lives in Nigeria. Just in 2025, these jihadists reportedly killed over 7,000 Christians, kidnapped approximately 7,800, and destroyed about 100 churches each month.
Cruz added that Nigerian Christians are systematically targeted by Islamist terrorist organizations for their faith, often compelled to comply with Sharia and blasphemy laws throughout the country. He insisted it was time to impose real consequences on Nigerian authorities who facilitate these violent actions and urged swift action on their bill.
