A fresh legislative move in the United States House of Representatives has called for targeted sanctions on individuals and organisations accused of severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria, including leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The proposal, introduced in the U.S. Congress by Rep. Chris Smith, recommends visa restrictions and asset freezes on persons linked to persecution and violence against Christian communities in Nigeria. The bill also urges the U.S. State Department and Treasury to enforce measures under the Global Magnitsky Act against those deemed responsible for attacks rooted in religious intolerance.
Miyetti Allah groups were listed among entities lawmakers argue have been linked to violent incidents in several Nigerian states, particularly in the Middle Belt region. The resolution also pushes for Fulani-ethnic militias involved in religious-based attacks to be designated as “Entities of Particular Concern.”
If adopted, the sanction regime could see U.S. authorities block entry to implicated persons, freeze assets held in American jurisdictions, and impose strict financial restrictions.
However, observers note that the resolution is not yet law. It represents a formal recommendation from Congress and will require further legislative and executive actions before sanctions take effect. Nigeria’s government has previously rejected claims that violence in affected regions is religious-driven, insisting the crisis is largely criminal and rooted in resource conflict.
The move has sparked fresh international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly around farmer-herder conflicts and persistent attacks in parts of the North-Central region.
As global scrutiny grows, analysts believe the bill signals heightened U.S. interest in the protection of religious minorities and the prosecution of non-state actors linked to sectarian violence in Nigeria.
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