A new bill before the United States Congress has called for targeted sanctions against individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria.
The bill identifies the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as entities allegedly responsible for such violations. It proposes visa restrictions and asset freezes for members of these organisations.
Sponsored by Congressman Christopher Smith, the bill also praises former President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to alleged religious persecution. It further seeks to categorise Fulani ethnic militias operating in Benue and Plateau States as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing their alleged role in attacks on civilians.
EPCs are non-state actors accused of severe violations of religious freedom under U.S. law. Other groups previously listed include Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Sahel, the Taliban, and the Houthis.
The legislative move coincided with a statement from Senator Ted Cruz, who vowed to hold Nigerian officials accountable over what he described as a Christian genocide. Cruz had earlier introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which recommends sanctions against Nigerian government officials or governors accused of supporting or enforcing blasphemy laws.
Meanwhile, former President Trump recently alleged that Christians in Nigeria face systematic killings, warning that the U.S. might intervene militarily if the Nigerian government fails to act.
However, the Nigerian Federal Government has rejected the accusations, maintaining that the country’s insecurity is driven by criminal and socio-economic factors, not religion.
