A new legislative proposal in the US Congress has suggested targeted punitive measures and other restrictions against individuals and groups allegedly involved in serious breaches of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The legislation specifically named the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as organizations implicated in these abuses.
The bill, put forth by House of Representatives member Smith Christopher, proposed sanctions on members of these groups, including visa restrictions and the freezing of assets.
He introduced the bill on Tuesday while praising US President Donald Trump for once again designating Nigeria a country of particular concern (CPC).
“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.
In the bill, Christopher highlighted that the US has also placed “Fulani Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States on its Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs) are defined under U.S. law as non-state actors who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
Christopher’s bill also recommended that the US should immediately provide humanitarian aid directly to faith-based organizations to support internally displaced people in Nigeria’s middle belt states.
The bill also advocated for making US foreign assistance, including funding through global health programs, conditional upon immediate steps being taken to address religious freedom violations.
It strongly urged the creation of long-term strategies to foster peace and stability, which involves requiring the Nigerian government to take prompt and effective action to prevent religious persecution, prosecute those responsible for violence, offer support for the millions of internally displaced persons, and uphold constitutional protections for religious freedom.
Christopher’s bill was introduced concurrently with US Senator Ted Cruz’s announcement of his commitment to holding Nigerian officials accountable for accusations of genocide against Christians.
Cruz is championing the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a bill designed to shield Christians and other religious minorities from widespread persecution in Nigeria.
Following the CPC designation, Trump also issued a warning of potential military action in Nigeria if its leaders fail to safeguard Christians in the country.
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