Five United States lawmakers have introduced a bill to Congress seeking sanctions against former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over alleged violations of religious freedom.

The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.

Details of the bill, published on the US Congress website, allege that Kwankwaso is among individuals contributing to what it describes as the systemic religious “persecution of Christians that has persisted” in Nigeria.

If passed into law, the Departments of State and Treasury would be required to impose sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on individuals or entities deemed responsible for severe religious freedom violations in the country.

Part of the bill states: “The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury should impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, on individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations, or report to Congress the reasons such sanctions have not been imposed, including— Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.”

Others listed for potential sanctions include groups the bill describes as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria”.

Some provisions of the proposed law also require the US Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias qualify for designation as foreign terrorist organisations.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Kwankwaso nor the affected organisations had commented on the allegations contained in the legislation.

The move comes months after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing what he described as the persecution of Christians in the West African nation — a position the bill’s sponsors say justifies further action.

However, Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected claims of religious persecution, insisting that the government respects all faiths.

Late last year, Trump threatened possible military action if the Federal Government failed to address the situation. On Christmas Day, the US carried out strikes in Nigeria targeting suspected terrorists. Both governments later described the operation as a joint effort.

“On Christmas Day, in close coordination with the government of Nigeria, we worked with them, but they’ve got to get tougher,” Trump said last week while addressing guests at the National Breakfast in Washington.

“I ordered powerful air strikes to decimate the ISIS terrorists who have been slaughtering Christians in that country by the thousands. It’s not even believable.

“We hit them so hard they still don’t know what the hell happened. And we were going to do it on a different day. I said no, do it on Christmas. So they understand it.”

Following the US president’s remarks, Nigeria intensified diplomatic engagement with Washington, dispatching a high-powered delegation to the United States.

Some American lawmakers also visited Nigeria to conduct a first-hand assessment of the situation.