6, November, 2025
A recent bill introduced in the US Congress proposes targeted sanctions and restrictive measures against individuals and groups in Nigeria accused of severe religious freedom violations. Specifically, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore have been named as entities implicated in these abuses.
The proposed bill, introduced by US Representative Smith Christopher, calls for sanctions including visa restrictions and asset freezes against members of these groups. Christopher emphasized the need to hold the Nigerian government accountable for its alleged complicity in religious persecution, particularly by radical Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists.
The bill also places “Fulani Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States on the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act, categorizing them as non-state actors that have committed severe violations of religious freedom.
Key provisions of the bill include ¹:
– *Humanitarian Assistance*: Providing immediate humanitarian aid directly to faith-based groups to support internally displaced people in Nigeria’s middle belt states.
– *Conditional Foreign Assistance*: Conditioning US foreign assistance on immediate actions to address religious freedom violations.
– *Long-term Strategies*: Developing strategies to promote peace and stability, including requiring the Nigerian government to take swift and effective measures to prevent religious persecution and prosecute those responsible for violence.
– *Support for Displaced Persons*: Providing support for millions of internally displaced persons and upholding constitutional protections for religious freedom.
This development coincides with US Senator Ted Cruz’s introduction of the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, aimed at protecting Christians and other religious minorities from persecution in Nigeria. The bill seeks to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of facilitating violence against these groups
