A new bill before the United States Congress has proposed targeted sanctions on individuals and groups accused of orchestrating serious violations of religious freedom in Nigeria, signaling Washington’s renewed focus on the country’s human rights record.
The bill, introduced on Tuesday by Christopher Smith, a U.S. lawmaker, specifically named 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 allegedly linked to religiously motivated violence.
Smith, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, praised President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a status reserved for nations that permit or engage in “particularly severe violations” of religious freedom.
He further urged the U.S. government to classify Fulani Ethnic Militias operating in Benue and Plateau States as Entities of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act. According to Smith, such entities include non state actors involved in major violations of religious freedom, similar to Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, ISIS Sahel, the Houthis, and the Taliban.
In a related move, Senator Ted Cruz issued a statement calling for accountability for Nigerian officials accused of ignoring the persecution of Christians. He vowed to name those involved in the coming weeks.
Cruz had earlier introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which proposed sanctions on federal and state officials who promoted or enforced blasphemy laws through policy or legislation.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded and politically driven. It maintains that religion is not the root cause of the nation’s security problems, arguing instead that issues like criminality, banditry, and socioeconomic hardship are the main drivers of insecurity.
