Nigeria’s president has replaced top security officials as his government grapples with unabated violence in the conflict-hit north and struggles with myriad security challenges

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has been trying to rally fellow evangelical Christians and urge Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom with unfounded claims of “Christian mass murder,” which the government of the West African nation has vehemently rejected as false.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu changed the chiefs of the country’s top military units, days after reports of an alleged coup plot became public, setting off a fit of unease in Africa’s largest democracy.

Nigeria's tax agency has directed banks, stockbrokers and other financial institutions to deduct a 10% withholding tax on interest earned from investments in short-term securities, the Federal Inland Revenue Service said on Tuesday.

Bill Maher, the US comedian and TV show host, said the Nigerian terror group Boko Haram has “killed over 100,000 [Christians] since 2009”, “burned 18,000 churches” and is “literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country”. But it’s “unclear where Maher got his figures from”, said Al Jazeera.

Demonstrations for the release of a separatist leader in Nigeria’s capital city turned violent on Monday as police fired tear gas and arrested dozens of protesters.

The author of Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report, Marta Petrosillo, is coming to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s defense.

Below is a letter written, signed, and organized by Nina Shea. The original can be found here. Dear Mr. President,

Nigeria will impose fines of up to 12 million naira ($8,200) and jail terms of up to 10 years on traffickers of ivory, pangolin scales and other wildlife in a sweeping new bill passed by its Senate on Tuesday.

Digital authoritarianism is a new way governments are trying to control citizens using digital and information technology. It is a growing concern for advocacy groups and those interested in freedom and democracy.