Senator Sumaila Accuses Ted Cruz of Fueling Religious Division Over Nigeria’s Security Crisis

Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, who represents Kano South Senatorial District, has criticised United States Senator Ted Cruz over his comments on Nigeria's security situation, accusing the American lawmaker of promoting a divisive narrative that could inflame religious tensions and undermine Nigeria's sovereignty.

In a statement issued on Friday, Sumaila rejected Cruz's repeated calls for Nigeria to be redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution, arguing that the US senator's position misrepresents the country's security challenges.

According to the lawmaker, Nigeria's insecurity is driven by multiple factors and cannot be accurately described as a conflict targeting only one religious group.

Sumaila said terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and insurgents have continued to attack communities across the country without regard for religion or ethnicity.

He noted that churches, mosques, schools, markets and rural communities have all come under attack, with victims drawn from different faiths and backgrounds.

"By presenting Nigeria's multifaceted security crisis as a purely religious conflict, Senator Cruz contributes to a distorted international perception of the country. This narrative has the potential to inflame tensions, undermine ongoing peace efforts and encourage external policies that may not reflect Nigeria's actual circumstances," the statement said.

The senator warned that reducing Nigeria's security crisis to a religious issue could create false international impressions while complicating ongoing efforts to restore peace and national cohesion.

Sumaila also defended Nigeria's security agencies, saying personnel from different religious backgrounds continue to work together in combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

He argued that focusing solely on a religious narrative overlooks the sacrifices made by security operatives and the suffering of victims across religious and ethnic lines.

According to him, Nigerians of all faiths have borne the consequences of insecurity, making it inaccurate to frame the crisis exclusively as religious persecution.

The Kano South senator urged Christians in Nigeria and around the world to reject narratives capable of promoting religious division, insisting that genuine international partners should support peacebuilding, reconciliation and interfaith cooperation.

He also maintained that Nigeria's internal challenges should not become tools for foreign political or ideological agendas.

Sumaila called on the international community, diplomatic partners, media organisations and Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides to promote national unity, security and sustainable development instead of rhetoric capable of worsening existing tensions.

He further referenced the decision of former US President Donald Trump's administration to remove Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern designation, arguing that the move reflected diplomatic engagement and progress made in addressing security and religious freedom concerns at the time.

The lawmaker's comments come amid renewed debate in the United States over Nigeria's security situation, following recent criticism by Senator Ted Cruz and legislative proposals seeking stronger US measures against Nigerian officials over allegations relating to religious freedom and insecurity.