THE United States Congress is considering imposing targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria.
This follows a bill introduced by U.S. Representative Smith Christopher after President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians.
According to reports, the proposed legislation specifically names the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as groups implicated in serious abuses.
The bill calls for sanctions against members of these organizations for their alleged involvement in attacks and violations tied to religious persecution.
“President Donald J. Trump acted appropriately and decisively to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and hold the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in religious persecution by radical Islamists such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists,” Christopher said while presenting the bill yesterday.
The proposed measure also includes the designation of “Fulani Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs) under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act. EPCs are non-state actors identified as having committed severe violations of religious freedom.
Beyond sanctions, the bill urges the U.S. government to provide humanitarian assistance directly to faith-based organizations aiding internally displaced persons in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
It also recommends conditioning U.S. foreign aid—including global health funding—on Nigeria’s commitment to addressing religious violence and protecting minority groups.
The legislation further calls on the Nigerian government to take swift action against perpetrators of violence, support displaced victims, and uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
Christopher’s proposal coincides with a similar effort in the U.S. Senate, where Senator Ted Cruz is championing the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, aimed at protecting Christians and other minorities from persecution.
President Trump, following Nigeria’s CPC re-designation, warned of possible U.S. military action if Nigerian authorities fail to curb violence against Christians and other religious groups.
The development has intensified diplomatic discussions between Washington and Abuja, as Nigeria’s government continues to deny claims of complicity in religious persecution, maintaining that its constitution upholds freedom of religion for all citizens.