Five members of the United States Congress have introduced a bill seeking sanctions against former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and two Fulani-based groups — the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore — over alleged violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was sponsored by Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
According to details published on the US Congress website, the bill accuses Kwankwaso and the listed organisations of contributing to what it described as persistent religious persecution of Christians in the country.
If passed into law, the measure would empower the US Departments of State and Treasury to impose punitive actions, including visa restrictions and the freezing of assets, against persons and groups found culpable of severe religious rights abuses in Nigeria.
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.”
The section of the bill, sighted by Channels Television, also listed groups described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria” among those proposed for sanctions.
In addition, the legislation directs the US Secretary of State to assess whether some Fulani-ethnic militias operating in Nigeria meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organisations.
The sponsors argue that the bill is aimed at strengthening accountability for religious freedom violations and promoting the protection of vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Kwankwaso nor the organisations mentioned in the bill has responded publicly to the allegations contained in the proposed legislation.