Five members of the United States Congress have introduced a bill seeking sanctions against former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and two cattle breeders’ groups over alleged violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart and Bill Huizenga.
According to details published on the US Congress website, the bill accuses Kwankwaso of contributing to what it described as ongoing religious “persecution of Christians that has persisted” in Nigeria. The measure also names the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and groups referred to as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias.”
If passed, the bill would require the US Departments of State and Treasury to impose penalties such as visa restrictions and asset freezes on individuals or entities found responsible for severe religious freedom violations.
Part 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— Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.”
The proposal further directs the US Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias operating in Nigeria meet the criteria for designation as foreign terrorist organisations.
As of press time, neither Kwankwaso nor the named organisations had issued a response to the allegations.
The bill follows the recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by US President Donald Trump over alleged persecution of Christians — a claim Nigerian authorities have repeatedly denied, insisting that the country upholds religious freedom.
Tensions between the two countries heightened late last year when Trump threatened military action if Nigeria failed to address insecurity. On Christmas Day, the United States carried out airstrikes targeting terrorist groups in Nigeria in what both governments later described as a coordinated operation.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Trump said: “On Christmas Day, in close coordination with the government of Nigeria, we worked with them, but they’ve got to get tougher.”
He added, “I ordered powerful air strikes to decimate the ISIS terrorists who have been slaughtering Christians in that country by the thousands. It’s not even believable.”
Nigeria subsequently stepped up diplomatic engagement with US officials, dispatching a high-level delegation to Washington, while some American lawmakers also visited Nigeria to assess the situation firsthand.
