US Lawmakers Push For Visa Ban, Asset Freeze On Miyetti Allah Over Alleged Christian Persecution
A fresh bill introduced in the United States Congress has proposed tough sanctions — including visa bans and asset freezes — on members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over alleged violations of religious freedom.
The legislation, sponsored by US Congressman Christopher Smith, accuses the groups of involvement in what it describes as “serious abuses” against Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Smith, who tabled the bill on Tuesday, praised former US President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under US law.
“President Donald J. Trump acted appropriately and decisively to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and hold the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in religious persecution by radical Islamists such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists,” Smith said.
The bill also revealed that the United States has placed “Fulani Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States on its “Entities of Particular Concern” (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act — a category reserved for non-state actors responsible for severe religious rights violations.
In addition to targeted sanctions, Smith’s proposal urges Washington to channel humanitarian aid directly to faith-based organisations assisting internally displaced persons across Nigeria’s conflict-ridden regions.
It further recommends that US foreign assistance — including health programme funding — be conditioned on concrete steps by the Nigerian government to curb religious persecution, prosecute perpetrators, and support millions of displaced victims.
The bill calls for a long-term peace strategy aimed at stabilising the Middle Belt and ensuring constitutional protections for freedom of religion.
Smith’s proposal comes as US Senator Ted Cruz pushes a parallel measure — the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 — which seeks to hold Nigerian officials personally accountable for alleged persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.
Following Nigeria’s CPC re-designation, Trump had also warned that the US might consider military options if Nigerian authorities failed to protect Christians from targeted attacks.