Two US lawmakers have introduced a bill targeting former Nigerian Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and groups like Miyetti Allah for alleged roles in religious violence and persecution of Christians in the country.
The bill titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was sponsored by Republican congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith. Sanctions such as visa bans, asset freezes, and investigations into Kwankwaso, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and Fulani militias were proposed under the Global Magnitsky Act.
Accusing these entities of supporting Fulani militias responsible for targeted killings, massacres, and displacement in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, the bill labeled their actions as terrorist activity under US law.
It emphasised that repeated acts of violence “meet the statutory definition of terrorist activity under section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)).”
“These militias have conducted attacks involving targeted killings, hostage-taking, hijackings, armed assaults, massacres of civilians, destruction of property, and forced displacement of local population.”
The sponsors of the bill claimed that systemic persecution of Christians persists, citing unverified data from Intersociety. The data alleged that 50,000 to 125,000 Christian deaths were recorded, with over 19,000 churches under destruction or attack since 2009. However, BBC and New York Times investigations questioned the methodology for its lack of evidence.
The proposed law also alleged legal frameworks as obstacles to religious freedom in Nigeria, highlighting blasphemy cases like the 2022 murder of Deborah Yakubu, Rhoda Jatau’s imprisonment, and Yahaya Sharif-Amin’s death sentence. It therefore urged Nigeria to repeal such laws.
“The Nigerian Government routinely denies that religious persecution exists and has failed to adequately intervene, including on early warning notifications of upcoming attacks, including the October 14, 2025, Plateau State massacre.”
While the legislation called for designating Fulani militias as foreign terrorist organizations, annual US reports on Christian persecution, and reviews of aid to Nigeria are other issues raised in the bill.
Built on President Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the bill framed the violence as a US national security threat destabilizing West Africa. As Kwankwaso’s inclusion remained unclear as he left office in 2019, the bill required congressional passage and Trump’s signature to become law.
While challenging the bill, critics highlighted Moore and Smith’s earlier promotion of a “Christian genocide” narrative, a rethoric disputed by Nigerian officials and observers attributing insecurity to factors like Boko Haram, banditry, and herder-farmer clashes.