Five US lawmakers have put forward a bill in Congress aimed at sanctioning former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for alleged attacks on religious freedom.
The legislation, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was introduced by Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
According to the bill, posted on the US Congress website, Kwankwaso is accused of being part of systemic religious “persecution of Christians that has persisted” in Nigeria.
If passed, the law would require the US Departments of State and Treasury to impose sanctions, such as visa bans and freezing assets, on “individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations” in the country.
“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,” part of he bill reads.
The bill also singled out what it described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria.” Some sections of the legislation require the Secretary of State to decide if certain Fulani-ethnic militias qualify as foreign terrorist organisations.
