Targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, have been proposed in a measure before the US Congress against people and organizations allegedly involved in abuses of religious freedom in Nigeria.
US Congressman Rep. Riley Moore (Republican, West Virginia) presented the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 on Tuesday. Rep. Chris Smith, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
In particular, Fulani-ethnic nomad militias, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and organizations like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are listed in the law as entities that could face penalties.
According to the text of bill, It directs the US Departments of State and Treasury to apply targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to anyone or organizations found to have violated religious freedom. Asset freezes and restrictions on visas are two examples of these punishments.
Additionally, the bill asks the US Secretary of State to assess whether some Fulani militias in Nigeria fit the requirements to be classified as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under US law.
The bill suggests more humanitarian aid for impacted communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt in addition to punitive actions. It suggests that the Nigerian government contribute to the cost of relief, which would then be distributed through reputable non-governmental and faith-based organizations in the area.
Announcing the bill on social media platform X, Moore said: “Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith. The US is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world.”
He added that the legislation builds on “the momentum of President Trump designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the recent US-Nigeria security framework agreement.”
Moore said the proposed law reinforces America’s commitment to protecting persecuted Christians and other vulnerable communities in Nigeria.
The bill also calls on the secretary of state to counter “the hostile foreign exploitation” of illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria.
The bill has garnered support from some other congressmen as Rep Moore expressed gratitude to them for joining the effort. The other congressmen are: Rep Tom Cole, Chairman House Appropriation Committee; Rep Brian Mast, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman; Rep Mario Diaz-Balart, chair of National Security and Department of State; and Rep Bill Huizenga, representing Michigan’s 4th congressional district.
Nigeria has faced persistent violence in parts of the Middle Belt and northern regions, where armed groups have been blamed for attacks on farming communities, kidnappings, and communal clashes. Tensions over religious freedom have intensified amid allegations of systematic targeting of Christian communities.
In late 2025, US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged severe violations of religious freedom. The designation allows the US government to take policy actions, including sanctions, against countries accused of tolerating or engaging in such violations.
The Nigerian government has rejected the characterisation of the crisis as a religious war, insisting that the country’s security challenges are complex and driven by multiple factors, including banditry, terrorism and competition over land and resources.
The security situation has also seen increased cooperation between Washington and Abuja. In December 2025, the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria in coordination with Nigerian authorities, as part of broader counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing efforts.
The US has also expanded military training support and supplies to Nigerian security forces in recent months.
The proposed bill will now proceed through the US legislative process, where it will be debated and considered by lawmakers.
