US Congress Names Kwankwaso, Miyetti Allah, ‘Fulani Ethnic Militias’ on Terror List

ByEditor

Feb 11, 2026 #CPC Nigeria designation, #Fulani ethnic militias terror list, #Miyetti Allah sanctions, #Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, #Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso sanctions, #Riley Moore Chris Smith bill, #US Congress Nigeria bill, #US Nigeria relations

Malik Yahya/

Republican lawmakers in the United States Congress have named former Nigerian presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and what they describe as Fulani ethnic militias for potential sanctions, asset freezes and visa bans.

The legislation, introduced on Tuesday by Representatives Riley Moore (R‑WV) and Chris Smith (R‑NJ) as H.R. 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, requires the US Secretary of State to report annually to Congress on efforts to tackle religious persecution in Nigeria and recommend punitive actions against individuals or groups responsible for mass atrocities.

Under the bill, the listed entities and individuals could face sanctions, including frozen assets and visa restrictions.

Lawmakers cited the Nigerian government’s failure to prosecute jihadist actors and address violence targeting Christian and non‑radical Muslim communities as a key rationale for the proposed measures.

The bill also references the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation previously applied to Nigeria, which enables the United States to consider further diplomatic and economic actions if progress on religious freedom is deemed insufficient.

While supporters argue the legislation is necessary to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable communities, critics caution that such designations could inflame local tensions and misrepresent the complex security situation in Nigeria, where conflicts involve overlapping issues of communal clashes, pastoral disputes and criminality alongside religious dimensions.

The bill remains under consideration in the US House of Representatives and, if passed, could significantly influence US‑Nigeria relations on security, human rights and religious freedom.