US Bill Seeks Sanctions Against Kwankwaso, Fulani Groups Over Religious V!olence

United States lawmakers Riley Moore and Chris Smith have introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, a legislative proposal aimed at designating Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in response to what they describe as persistent religious violence targeting Christians in Nigeria.

The bill also recommends targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, against former presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

If passed, the legislation would direct the U.S. Secretary of State to assess Fulani militia activities, submit annual reports to Congress on the persecution of Christians, and review U.S. assistance to Nigeria to ensure that aid does not “inadvertently sponsor religious persecution or systemic violence.”

Moore stated, “The U.S. is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world.” Smith added, “The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution…has only enabled the violence, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented numbers.”

The bill cites widespread atrocities including the destruction of churches, kidnappings, sexual violence, and village raids, estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria from 2009 to 2025. Moore, who visited Nigeria as part of an investigation initiated under former President Trump, said, “I witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face.”