U.S. Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation recommending targeted sanctions against former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over alleged religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457), was introduced on February 11 by Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) and co-sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), alongside senior Republican figures including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole.
The bill builds on President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom issues.
The move has sparked sharp reactions in Nigeria, where Kwankwaso’s supporters describe the proposal as selective, politically motivated, and inconsistent with his record in public office.
What Are The Alleged Violations?
The bill links Kwankwaso’s inclusion to his tenure as Kano State governor from 1999 to 2003, during which the state adopted Sharia criminal law, joining several other northern states at the time.
Rep. Moore has publicly accused Kwankwaso of complicity in religious intolerance, particularly referencing Kano’s blasphemy laws that prescribe severe penalties, including death.
In a November 2025 post on X responding to Kwankwaso’s criticism of Nigeria’s CPC designation, Moore alleged that Kwankwaso “instituted Sharia law” and signed legislation making blasphemy punishable by death.
The bill highlights blasphemy laws as emblematic of religious persecution, citing high-profile cases such as the 2022 mob killing of Christian student Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto and the sentencing of Sufi musician Yahaya Sharif-Aminu in Kano.
It also references disputed estimates from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law claiming that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria between 2009 and 2025. However, investigations by international media outlets have questioned the transparency and methodology behind those figures.
Beyond Kwankwaso, the bill names the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and Fulani-ethnic nomad militias as responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.
It further calls for the designation of Fulani militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, citing alleged organized attacks on civilians, particularly Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
What Sanctions Are Being Proposed?
The legislation recommends targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against individuals and groups accused of severe violations of religious freedom.
The proposed sanctions include:
•Visa bans preventing entry into the United States
•Asset freezes targeting any financial holdings linked to the U.S.
In addition, the bill mandates annual reports from the U.S. Secretary of State assessing Nigeria’s compliance with the International Religious Freedom Act. These reports would evaluate:
•The Nigerian government’s efforts to prevent persecution and prosecute attackers
•Steps taken to repeal or reform blasphemy laws
•Protection for vulnerable communities
•Support for internally displaced persons
•Whether U.S. security assistance risks enabling religious persecution
The legislation also calls for recommendations on further punitive measures against alleged perpetrators.
Kwankwaso’s Record And Response
Contemporary accounts from the early 2000s suggest that Kwankwaso did not aggressively champion Sharia’s adoption.
Reports indicate that the Kano Sharia bill was introduced as a private member’s initiative and that he faced intense public and clerical pressure before signing it into law.
At its formal launch in June 2000, Kwankwaso reportedly cautioned against vigilantism and emphasized that only the state had the authority to enforce the law.
“Only the state government has the right to punish offenders. We should avoid taking the law into our hands. We should not intimidate those who are not Muslims.”
His administration’s measured approach reportedly strained relations with hardline clerics and contributed to his electoral defeat in 2003.
Supporters argue that he later maintained cordial relations with Christian leaders, ran for president in 2023 with a Christian bishop as his running mate, and played a role in curbing Boko Haram activities in Kano during his governorship.
The Kwankwasiyya movement and NNPP have rejected the U.S. proposal, describing it as a “witch-hunt” and questioning why Kwankwaso was singled out among several northern governors who oversaw Sharia adoption. They also point to U.S. alliances with countries that operate under Sharia-based systems.
Some analysts suggest the move may be linked to Kwankwaso’s vocal criticism of the CPC designation, in which he argued that Nigeria’s security crisis is complex and should not be framed solely through a religious lens.
Outlook And Broader Context
Nigeria’s security landscape remains deeply complex. The country faces Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgencies in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt, and separatist unrest in the southeast.
While religious identity often overlaps with these conflicts, many analysts emphasize ethnic, economic, and criminal dimensions as equally significant drivers.
The bill remains at the introduction stage in Congress. Historically, many Nigeria-focused congressional proposals do not advance to full passage. Even if approved, implementation would require executive action under the U.S. administration.
For Kwankwaso, the controversy could carry political implications at home. In northern Nigeria, where skepticism of foreign interference resonates strongly, the sanctions proposal may bolster his standing among supporters who view him as defending national sovereignty.
The episode highlights ongoing tensions in U.S.-Nigeria relations, particularly over how best to address religious freedom concerns while navigating Nigeria’s broader security and political realities.
