The United States has proposed targeted measures against individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedoms in Nigeria under the newly introduced Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.
US Congressman Riley Moore (R‑West Virginia) announced the bill on Tuesday via X, with co-sponsorship from Rep. Chris Smith (R‑New Jersey). The legislation specifically names former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Fulani-ethnic nomad militias, and associations including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The bill directs the US Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani militias qualify as foreign terrorist organisations under US law and authorises targeted sanctions—including visa bans and asset freezes—on individuals and entities responsible for religious freedom violations. It also calls for humanitarian aid delivery in Nigeria’s Middle Belt through trusted faith-based and non-governmental organisations, co-funded by the Nigerian government.
Moore wrote on X: “Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith. The US is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world.”
The legislation builds on earlier US measures, including Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” in 2025 for severe violations of religious freedom and the recent US–Nigeria security framework agreement.
Tensions over religious freedom in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions have escalated amid persistent violence by armed groups. The Nigerian government has rejected characterisations of the crisis as a religious war, describing the security challenges as multifaceted.
In December 2025, the US carried out airstrikes against Islamic State‑linked militants in northwest Nigeria, in coordination with Abuja, and expanded military training and supplies for Nigerian forces as part of counter-terrorism efforts.
