Five members of the United States House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would require the US secretary of state to submit a detailed report on America’s response to what they describe as ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
If enacted, the legislation would mandate the Departments of State and Treasury to consider sanctions — including visa restrictions and asset freezes — against “individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations” in Nigeria.
Those specifically named in the proposed sanctions list include former governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore; and groups described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria”.
The bill, introduced on Tuesday, is sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore (the lead author), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga. It is titled the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’.
According to a copy of the draft legislation, the sponsors commended US President Donald Trump, saying he “acted justly” by redesignating Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC).
The lawmakers argued that the United States should deploy “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”.
Under the bill’s provisions, the secretary of state would also be required to assess whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias operating in Nigeria meet the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Part of the proposed law states: “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.”
It further provides that: “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, who authored the bill, has consistently raised concerns about what he describes as systemic persecution of Christians in Nigeria and visited the country in November 2025 in relation to the issue.
In November 2025, President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, a status that enables the US government to apply diplomatic and economic measures.
The US president also authorised coordinated strikes with Nigerian authorities against suspected militants on Christmas Day 2025.
