US Lawmakers Introduce Legislation Targeting Nigerian Figures Over Religious Freedom Concerns
In a significant diplomatic move, five United States Congressmen have formally proposed the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026. This legislation specifically recommends imposing targeted sanctions, asset freezes, and visa bans against former Nigerian presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, along with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
Details of the Proposed Legislation
The bill, introduced by Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga, mandates the US Secretary of State to submit periodic assessments to Congress. These reports would detail Nigeria's compliance with international religious freedom obligations and outline actions taken to protect vulnerable communities within the country.
Congressman Riley Moore emphasized the motivation behind the act in a social media statement, asserting, "The U.S. is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world." He further noted that the legislation aims to build upon previous administrative actions.
Allegations and Cited Evidence
The lawmakers presented stark statistics to justify their proposal, citing estimates that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria between 2009 and 2025. They also reported that more than 19,000 churches were destroyed during this period.
Specific incidents highlighted include:
- The attacks in Yelwata.
- The Christmas Eve massacres of 2023 and 2024.
- The Holy Week and Easter attacks of 2024 and 2025, which allegedly resulted in over 9,500 deaths, predominantly Christians, and displaced more than half a million people.
Referencing the Open Doors' 2026 Watch List, the sponsors noted that Nigeria accounts for a staggering 72 percent of Christians killed worldwide. They also pointed to individual cases, such as Rhoda Jatau and Deborah Yakubu, who faced mob violence, imprisonment, or death over alleged blasphemy, with perpetrators often escaping punishment.
Broader Implications and Requirements
The legislation applauds former US President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), arguing that the Nigerian government has historically failed to adequately prevent or respond to religiously motivated violence and has tolerated impunity by extremist actors.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Requiring the Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias in Nigeria qualify for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
- Mandating the Departments of State and Treasury to impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations, specifically naming:
- Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria.
- Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor.
- Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
- Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
- Proposing US humanitarian assistance, co-funded by the Nigerian government, to be delivered through trusted civil society and faith-based organisations in Nigeria's Middle Belt states.
- Calling for collaboration with international partners, including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to promote religious freedom and peace in the region.
Future US-Nigeria Relations at Stake
The lawmakers made it clear that the future of US-Nigeria relations hinges on the Nigerian government's response to these alleged atrocities. They suggested that Nigeria could play a stabilising role in the Sahel region and strengthen ties with Washington if it takes concrete steps to combat persecution and protect vulnerable communities.
This legislative proposal underscores growing international scrutiny of Nigeria's internal security and human rights record, potentially setting the stage for significant diplomatic and economic repercussions depending on the actions taken by both nations in the coming months.
