By Our Reporter
The United States Congress is considering a new bill that proposes sanctions on individuals and organizations accused of violating religious freedoms in Nigeria. The legislation, introduced by Congressman Christopher Smith, specifically names the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore among groups to be subjected to restrictive measures.
The bill seeks to impose visa bans and asset freezes on members of the listed groups found to be responsible for attacks or rights abuses. It also calls for “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States to be designated as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act—placing them in the same category as Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Sahel, the Taliban, and the Houthi movement.
Congressman Smith also praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for reportedly reinstating Nigeria’s status as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to alleged religious persecution.
In a related development, Senator Ted Cruz said he intends to push for the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” which would allow the U.S. to impose sanctions on Nigerian federal or state officials accused of supporting or enforcing blasphemy laws. Cruz also accused Nigerian authorities of overlooking what he described as “ongoing persecution of Christians.”
But the Nigerian government has dismissed these claims. Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the U.S. assessment as misinformed, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges are not religiously motivated.
“Nigeria faces long-standing security issues that affect Christians and Muslims equally,” Idris said. “Any suggestion that the state is turning a blind eye to religious violence is based on inaccurate or misleading information.”
The Minister emphasized that the government continues to take steps to combat terrorism and communal violence across various regions of the country.