The US proposes visa bans and asset freezes against Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and others under the Nigeria Religious Freedom Act of 2026
The United States has proposed targeted measures, including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria, under the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.
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US Congressman Riley Moore (R‑West Virginia) announced the bill on Tuesday via X, co-sponsored by 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 mandates the US Secretary of State to assess whether certain Fulani militias qualify as foreign terrorist organisations under US law.
It also calls for humanitarian assistance, co-funded by Nigeria, to be delivered through trusted faith-based and non-governmental organisations in the country’s Middle Belt.
Congressman Moore said, “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.”
He added that the legislation builds on previous measures, including Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations and the recent US–Nigeria security framework agreement.
The move comes amid escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions, where armed groups have targeted communities, particularly Christians.
President Donald Trump re‑designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in late 2025, a decision rejected by the Nigerian government, which maintains that the crisis is multifaceted rather than a religious conflict.
The security situation has also prompted direct US military involvement. In December 2025, the United States conducted airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria, in coordination with Nigerian authorities, as part of broader counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing efforts.
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The proposed legislation seeks to combine accountability measures with humanitarian support, reinforcing US efforts to protect vulnerable communities in Nigeria while addressing persistent religious freedom concerns.
