Key points:
- Bayo Onanuga rebukes U.S. Senator Ted Cruz on X. He says Cruz spreads false claims about faith wars.
- Cruz alleges officials ignore mass killings of Christians. He vows to push a sanctions bill in Congress.
- Onanuga insists crime, not religion, fuels today’s bloodshed. He warns such talk can harm U.S.–Nigeria ties.
Bayo Onanuga took aim at Senator Ted Cruz today. He said the senator used false, harsh words. He called the talk cruel and untrue. He urged Cruz to stop at once.
Cruz shared a long post on X. He claimed leaders “turn a blind eye” to the pain. He added they are “enabling the mass murder of Christians.” He also flagged a fresh bill push.
Days earlier, the President dismissed persecution claims in firm words. That report, he said, told a “hellish lie.” Read more in this linked brief on Tinubu dismisses persecution claims.
Cruz pushes a sanctions bill
Cruz said he will push a new act. He named it the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act. The plan will target flagged officials with sanctions. He said it will punish anyone tied to such attacks.
The senator framed the bill as a hard line. He said the move will deter fresh harm. He also pressed for sharp pressure on Abuja. He claimed that is the right next step.
Onanuga shot that claim down at once. He said Nigeria does not run a faith war. He said the charge paints a wrong, harsh picture. He urged the senator to check facts first.
Onanuga rejects faith war narrative
The aide drew a clear line on this fight. “Senator, stop these malicious, contrived lies,” he wrote. “We do not have a religious war in Nigeria.” He said that point is not in doubt.
Onanuga named core threats in the North-East. “Degraded Boko Haram target everyone,” he said. “They attack farmers and soldiers,” he stressed. He said crime groups also hit mosques in the North-West.
“They kill worshippers in their mosques,” he added. “Christians are not targeted,” Onanuga wrote flatly. “We have religious harmony in our country,” he said. “Stop these malicious lies,” his post ended.
He said crime and violent extremism drive the chaos. He said faith is not the cause at all. He warned that false talk can strain key ties. He urged care from friends in the U.S.
Last month, the U.S. Mission warned visa bans for graft. It said corrupt officials may face sharp travel blocks. See that report here on theUS visa bans warning.
Onanuga said he wants fair words from partners. He asked for nuance on today’s security map. He asked for help, not heat, from friends abroad. He closed with a strong call for truth
