The presidential aide accused them of spreading falsehoods that embolden extremists and misrepresent the country’s fight against terrorism.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has lashed out at United States Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher over what he described as “reckless and misleading” comments about Nigeria.
The presidential aide accused them of spreading falsehoods that embolden extremists and misrepresent the country’s fight against terrorism.
Dare, a former journalist, said both Cruz and Maher should “engage with the facts before amplifying falsehoods that malign an entire nation.”
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, the ex-minister insisted that Nigeria deserves global solidarity in its battle against terror.
“Senator Ted Cruz and Bill Maher et al would do well to engage with the facts before amplifying falsehoods that embolden extremists and malign an entire nation. Nigeria deserves solidarity in its fight against terror — not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding,” he said.
“The truth remains simple: Nigeria is not witnessing a Christian genocide; it is confronting terrorism that targets everyone.”
His comments come amid renewed criticism from foreign commentators, including U.S. conservative figures, accusing the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the alleged persecution of Christians in parts of the country.
Dare dismissed such claims as dangerous oversimplifications, arguing that extremist violence in Nigeria affects people of all faiths and regions.
Senator Ted Cruz had recently alleged that more than 50,000 Christians have been “massacred” in Nigeria since 2009, alongside the destruction of 18,000 churches and 2,000 Christian schools.
“Since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred, and over 18,000 churches and 2,000 Christian schools have been destroyed,” Cruz said in a statement posted on X on Tuesday.
“The United States knows who those people are, and I intend to hold them accountable,” he added.
Cruz, a Republican senator representing Texas, also accused unnamed actors of orchestrating targeted attacks on religious minorities, warning that the U.S. must take a firmer stance.
His comments reignited debate in Washington over Nigeria’s human rights record and the U.S. State Department’s decision to exclude Nigeria from its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) on religious freedom.
A group of Republican Senators, including Ted Budd, Josh Hawley, Pete Ricketts, Ted Cruz, and James Lankford, recently wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to re-designate Nigeria as a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
“We write to urge you to consider designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern pursuant to the IRFA, to give the President additional authority to take specific actions to address continued unchecked acts of violence and terrorism against religious minorities,” the lawmakers said.
They cited numerous deadly attacks allegedly targeting Christians in Niger and Benue States between 2024 and 2025, referencing reports of kidnappings, mass killings, and church burnings.
The Senators also invoked former U.S. President Donald Trump’s record on religious liberty, recalling his 2019 global appeal at the United Nations to end religious persecution and defend freedom of belief.
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