A bipartisan legislative bill is underway in the United States Congress to impose sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on individuals and organizations in Nigeria accused of religious freedom violations.
The newly introduced bill specifically names the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and Fulani-Ethnic Militias as “Entities of Particular Concern” (EPC), alongside designated terrorist groups, for their alleged role in attacks on Christians.
The U.S. legislative action comes as the Trump administration escalates pressure on Nigeria by redesignating it a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and threatening potential military action over unverified claims of a Christian genocide.
For years, Nigeria has been plagued by complex security challenges, including attacks by Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram and chronic violence, particularly in the Middle Belt, often involving clashes between predominantly Christian farmers and mostly Muslim nomadic herders, including groups associated with the Fulani ethnic group.
U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Christopher Smith and Senator Ted Cruz, argue that the Nigerian government has been unwilling and unable to adequately protect its Christian population, thereby tolerating the violations necessary for a CPC designation. The classification of non-state actors as EPCs, a list that includes groups like Boko Haram and the Taliban, would subject them to U.S. sanctions.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has consistently denied any state-sanctioned persecution, arguing that the insecurity is not religiously motivated and affects all citizens. They also point out the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that the government is actively working to bring perpetrators of violence, regardless of their affiliations, to justice.
The House of Representatives previously condemned a similar U.S. bill, calling it a “misrepresentation” of the reality of the security country.
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