U.S. Congress Proposes Visa Bans, Asset Freezes On Miyetti Allah Members Over Religious Freedom Violations In Nigeria

The United States Congress has proposed visa restrictions and asset freezes on members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as part of a sweeping move to address alleged violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.

The proposed sanctions come amid renewed pressure from American lawmakers and evangelical groups urging stronger U.S. action against what they describe as systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Christopher Smith presented a bill seeking sanctions against individuals and groups “responsible for or complicit in severe violations of religious freedom” under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

The bill explicitly names “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States among Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs) — a designation typically reserved for non-state actors accused of serious human rights and religious liberty violations.

Other groups previously listed under the EPC designation include Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Sahel, the Taliban, and the Houthis.

If passed, the legislation would empower U.S. authorities to impose visa bans and freeze the assets of individuals associated with the listed entities.

Congressman Smith commended former U.S. President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing ongoing reports of attacks on Christian communities across parts of the country.

The move follows Trump’s earlier directive to Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the alleged killing of Christians in Nigeria.

On Friday, Trump declared Nigeria a country of particular concern and instructed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for “possible action” in Nigeria, according to The New York Times, which reported that the U.S. military had drafted contingency plans.

In response, the Nigerian Federal Government rejected the allegations, insisting that the country’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and worship for all citizens.

The congressional push also builds on a separate bill introduced in September by Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747) seeks to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC status and impose sanctions on government officials allegedly complicit in religious persecution.

Co-sponsored by five Republican senators, including Ted Budd, the bill cites reports that over 52,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, with more than 20,000 churches and Christian institutions destroyed or attacked by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The proposed law mandates the U.S. State Department to submit annual reports to Congress on Nigeria’s human rights record and recommend visa bans or financial sanctions where violations persist.

Representative Riley Moore, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging “immediate action” to address what he described as the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.”

“You have always been a champion for Christians around the world,” Moore wrote, thanking Trump for his “leadership and commitment to defend believers being slaughtered by radical Islamists.”

If enacted, the congressional sanctions could mark a significant escalation in U.S. policy toward Nigeria, heightening diplomatic tensions between both nations over human rights and religious freedom concerns.