A new bill introduced in the United States Congress has called for targeted sanctions and other punitive measures against individuals and organisations accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation identified the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as responsible entities. It recommended visa bans and asset freezes for members of both groups.
Smith Christopher, a member of the US House of Representatives, presented the bill on Tuesday while commending President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC).
According to the bill, the US also placed “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau states on the list of entities of particular concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Under US law, EPCs are non-state actors found to have committed severe violations of religious freedom. Previously designated groups include Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Sahel, the Taliban, and the Houthis.
The development coincided with a statement from US Senator Ted Cruz, who vowed to hold Nigerian officials accountable over alleged Christian persecution. “I intend to be very explicit about who they are in the coming days and weeks,” Cruz said.
In October, Cruz introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” which proposed sanctions against “federal officials or state governors” accused of enforcing or promoting blasphemy laws through “public advocacy, legislative action, or executive enforcement directives.”
The Nigerian government, however, has consistently dismissed such allegations, maintaining that religion is not a driving factor in the nation’s insecurity challenges.