United States senator Ted Cruz has accused the Nigerian government of deploying a public relations strategy to downplay what he described as policies enabling the persecution of Christians in the country.
Cruz, who has consistently criticised Nigeria’s handling of religious violence, issued the statement on Friday in reaction to comments made by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, during an interview with Piers Morgan on Piers Uncensored.
Tuggar had insisted that Nigeria is not experiencing a genocide against Christians, saying his position was based on “factual and contextual” data.
Responding, Cruz accused Nigerian authorities of concealing the true extent of attacks on Christians.
His words: “Nigerian officials know their policies have created an environment in which Christians are being persecuted and slaughtered, including their enforcement of sharia law and their tolerance of Islamist violence.
“Instead of reversing these policies, they are waging a media campaign to escape exposure and accountability. I intend to prevent them from doing so.”
Cruz has previously urged the US Congress to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over religious freedom violations.