Ted Cruz, a U.S. senator and vocal voice in the campaign against “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, has reacted to the Palm Sunday attack on the Anguwan Rukuba community in Plateau State, accusing the Nigerian government of creating an enabling environment for terrorists.

“Another slaughter of Christians in Nigeria by jihadists, this time on Palm Sunday,” Mr Cruz said in an X post reacting to the attack, during which about 30 people died.

He added, “Nigerian government officials have created an environment in which Christians are routinely persecuted and slaughtered by imposing sharia law and looking the other way at violence.”

The lawmaker claimed on Monday that the U.S. government knows those behind terrorist activities in Nigeria and has the power to hold them accountable.

“Those officials should know that the U.S. knows who they are and has the tools to hold them accountable,” Mr Cruz said.

Presidential aides Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala did not immediately respond to Peoples Gazette’s request on Mr Cruz’s allegations.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State visited Anguwan Rukuba on Monday to commiserate with families who lost loved ones in the attack. He promised that the government would fund the medical treatment of all those injured during the attack.

The Gazette on Tuesday reported that about 119 people have been killed in several coordinated attacks across Plateau State in the past 90 days.

Frequent attacks and a surging death toll have sparked reactions and public outrage from outside and within Nigeria, with many berating President Bola Tinubu’s government for failing in its core responsibility of protecting life and property.

Amnesty International on Tuesday said Mr Tinubu has continued to issue “turgid” press statements condemning violent attacks one after another without corresponding action to rein in rampaging bandits and terrorists.

It accused Mr Tinubu of “failing” to protect Nigerians in the wake of fresh violent attacks in Jos, pointing out that issuing “turgid statements” to console victims are not substitute for decisive action.

Meanwhile, Mr Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, condemned the attack, assuring citizens that his government is procuring equipment to aid security agencies in combating insecurity.