US bill has proposed visa ban and asset freeze against Kwankwaso among others over alleged religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the United States has proposed targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals and groups accused of involvement in religious freedom violations in Nigeria under a new legislative initiative titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.
On Tuesday, US Congressman Riley Moore (R–West Virginia) announced via X that he had introduced the bill alongside co-sponsor Rep. Chris Smith (R–New Jersey).
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The proposed legislation specifically names former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as Fulani-ethnic nomad militias and associations such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
According to excerpts from the bill, the US Departments of State and Treasury would be required to impose targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on individuals or entities found responsible for religious freedom violations. The measures would include visa restrictions and the freezing of US-based assets.
The bill also directs the US Secretary of State to assess whether certain Fulani militias meet the criteria for designation as foreign terrorist organisations under American law.
In addition to sanctions, the legislation calls for the delivery of humanitarian assistance co-funded by the Nigerian government through trusted faith-based and non-governmental organisations operating in Nigeria’s Middle Belt states.
Announcing the move, Moore stated that the legislation builds on previous US actions, including Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” and the recent US–Nigeria security framework agreement. He said the bill seeks to reinforce America’s position on protecting persecuted Christians and other vulnerable communities.
Religious freedom concerns in Nigeria have drawn increasing international attention amid ongoing violence in parts of the Middle Belt and northern regions. In late 2025, former US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over what Washington described as severe violations of religious freedom, a classification rejected by the Nigerian government, which maintains that the country’s security challenges are multifaceted and not driven solely by religion.
The security situation has also prompted deeper US–Nigeria military cooperation. In December 2025, the United States carried out coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria, while also expanding intelligence sharing, training support, and military assistance to Nigerian forces.
The proposed bill is expected to undergo congressional review in the coming months.
