Five members of the United States House of Representatives have tabled a bill aimed at requiring the secretary of state to submit a “comprehensive report on US efforts to address the ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria”.
Should the bill be enacted, the Departments of State and Treasury would be mandated to enforce sanctions, including visa restrictions and asset freezes, against “individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations” in Nigeria.
Those named for potential sanctions include Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano governor and leader of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP); Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore; and groups described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria”.
The legislation was presented on Tuesday in the US House of Representatives.
The sponsors of the bill are Chris Smith, Riley Moore (bill author), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
The proposal bears the title ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’.
According to a copy of the draft obtained by TheCable, the sponsors said US President Donald Trump “acted justly” by redesignating Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC).
The lawmakers urged the US to 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 be required to assess whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias in Nigeria meet the criteria for designation 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,” a section of the bill states.
“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 alleged systemic Christian persecution in Nigeria and visited the country in November 2025 in connection with the claims.
In November 2025, Trump redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, enabling the US executive branch to apply diplomatic and economic measures.
Trump also approved joint strikes with the Nigerian government against suspected militants on Christmas Day 2025.