Political commentator and author Reno Omokri has refuted allegations made by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who claimed that the Nigerian government is enabling terrorism and facilitating a so-called “Christian genocide.”
Speaking during an appearance on ARISE News on Monday night, October 13, Omokri described Senator Cruz’s remarks as “ludicrous and based on misinformation.” He accused Cruz and other American politicians of relying on distorted narratives about Nigeria’s security challenges.
Ted Cruz’s Allegations
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican lawmaker from Texas, recently introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025.” The proposed bill seeks to hold Nigerian officials accountable for allegedly supporting Islamist violence and enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws in parts of the country.
Cruz asserted that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted and executed for their faith, calling the situation a “Christian genocide.” He also urged the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” and to impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian leaders.
Reno Omokri’s Response
In response, Omokri said he took it upon himself to clarify the facts by inviting a two-man American fact-finding delegation to Nigeria.
“When Senator Ted Cruz began this tale about a Christian genocide, and Governor Greg Abbott followed along with Congressman Chip Roy, I felt it was my patriotic duty to reach out to Republican officials who genuinely want to know the truth,” Omokri stated.
According to Omokri, the delegation—comprising Mike Arnold, Republican Mayor of Blanco, Texas, and Jeff Gibbs, an American filmmaker—has met with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), as well as visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the country.
He added that the delegation had been briefed by Cruz and Congressman Roy before their trip and has “now seen things for themselves and spoken with both Christian and Muslim leaders.”
“There Is No Christian Genocide” — Omokri
Omokri emphasized that while Christians have been victims of attacks, labeling the situation as genocide is inaccurate since both Christians and Muslims have suffered from terrorist violence.
“Yes, there are killings of Christians in Nigeria, and anyone who denies that would be dishonest. But there are also killings of Muslims,” he said.
“When terrorists attack Benue, most of the victims are Christians because Benue is Christian-dominated; when they hit Zamfara, most victims are Muslims. So there is no Christian genocide.”
Roots of Nigeria’s Insecurity
The former presidential aide traced Nigeria’s insecurity to the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya, which he argued destabilized the entire Sahel region.
“This crisis began when the Obama administration intervened in Libya. After Gaddafi fell, his mercenaries spread across the Sahel with weapons and training. They destabilised the region from Burkina Faso to Mali and Niger. Now they are trying to do the same in Nigeria,” Omokri explained.
He further accused the United States of moral complicity, saying,
“There is a moral responsibility on the United States because this problem was brought to Nigeria’s doorstep by the Obama administration.”
Warning Against Misclassification
Omokri cautioned that designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” would have devastating consequences.
“If Nigeria is designated as a country of particular concern, it will only embolden terrorists and punish ordinary Nigerians—both Christians and Muslims,” he warned.
He said the ongoing U.S. fact-finding mission aims to ensure that American policymakers understand the true nature of Nigeria’s security situation before making such consequential decisions.
