Five United States lawmakers have introduced a bill at the country’s house of representatives seeking to compel the secretary of state to submit a “comprehensive report on US efforts to address the ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria”.
If the proposed legislation becomes law, the Departments of State and Treasury are expected to impose sanctions, including visa ban and asset freeze, on “individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations” in Nigeria.
The entities and individual listed for sanctions are Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano and national leader of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and those described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria”.
The bill was introduced on Tuesday at the US house of representatives.
The congressmen who sponsored the proposed legislation are Chris Smith, Riley Moore (bill author), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
The proposed legislation is titled: ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’.
In a copy of the bill seen by TheCable, the sponsors said US President Donald Trump “acted justly” by redesignating Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC).
The lawmakers stated that the US should use “all available diplomatic, humanitarian, economic, and security tools to pressure the Government of Nigeria to end impunity for perpetrators of mass atrocities and religious persecution and protect Christian communities, clergy, and other targeted religious minorities”.
Based on the provisions of the proposed legislation, the secretary of state is expected to determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias in Nigeria qualify as a foreign terrorist organisation.
“The United States should deliver humanitarian assistance, co-funded by the Government of Nigeria, through trusted civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations, in Nigeria’s middle belt states,” part of the bill reads.
“The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury should impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, on individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations, or report to Congress the reasons such sanctions have not been imposed, including—
“(A) Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria;
“(B) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor;
‘(C) Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); and
“(D) Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.”
Moore, author of the bill, has been one of the US politicians insistent on claims of systemic Christian persecution in Nigeria. He paid a visit to Nigeria in November 2025 over the claim.
In November 2025, Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, a move that allows the US executive branch to apply diplomatic and economic measures.
Trump also authorised coordinated strikes with the Nigerian government against suspected militants on Christmas Day 2025.
