Tension escalated on Wednesday in Nigeria’s political and diplomatic circles as lawmakers in the United States unveiled a bill that could lead to targeted sanctions against former Kano State governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) national leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as influential herders’ organisations, over alleged violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457), was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Representative Chris Smith, with support from Reps Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart and Bill Huizenga. It seeks to compel the US Secretary of State and Treasury to consider visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against individuals and groups accused of involvement in “severe religious freedom violations.”
Among those named in the bill for potential sanctions are: Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and national leader of the NNPP; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore; and other factions described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias.”
The draft legislation states that the United States “stands in solidarity with Christians and all persecuted religious minorities in Nigeria” and directs that the Secretary of State determine whether certain Fulani militias qualify as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under US law. If designated, such groups could face broad restrictions and legal ramifications beyond individual sanctions.
In Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the NNPP have unequivocally rejected the bill’s implications. APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, warned against acting on unproven allegations, asserting that due process is essential. “America is the beacon of democracy and freedom… whatever the allegation against former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and others is, it remains an allegation until it is proven,” Ibrahim told journalists, adding that imposing travel or financial restrictions would be premature without evidence and a fair hearing.
For its part, the NNPP described the proposal as “contrived” and a politically motivated attempt to smear its leader. At a press briefing in Abuja, NNPP National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson insisted Kwankwaso had no links to religious extremism and called on US lawmakers to investigate more thoroughly before legislating. “We see this development as a contrived action against an innocent man who clearly has no relationship with religious fundamentalism in Nigeria,” Johnson said. He questioned why other northern governors who implemented Sharia law were not named alongside Kwankwaso.
Johnson cited Kwankwaso’s record, including his role in reducing Boko Haram’s influence in Kano and his choice of a Christian running mate during the 2023 presidential race, as evidence contradicting claims of bias or persecution. “These are the facts…so that justice is done to the noble name of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he added.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association also rejected its inclusion in the sanctions list, with National President Baba Ngelzarma calling the allegations unfounded. “We have never been involved in any form of terrorism. We have never taken responsibility for any form of terrorism,” he said, highlighting that the association represents cattle breeders across religious and ethnic lines and does not shield criminals.
The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act is part of broader US scrutiny over religiously motivated violence in Nigeria. The bill’s drafters cited figures suggesting Nigeria accounts for a significant share of global Christian fatalities, as well as incidents involving blasphemy laws and mob justice in northern states. If enacted, the legislation would also require detailed annual reporting on Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom norms.
Supporters of the bill argue it would bolster humanitarian assistance and accountability, while critics, including Nigerian officials, warn it could strain diplomatic relations and mischaracterise complex internal security challenges.
The initiative has already stirred debate in Abuja and Washington about national sovereignty, oversight of internal conflict, and the role foreign governments should play in influencing domestic human rights practices. Whether the legislation will pass into law and ultimately trigger sanctions remains uncertain, but its introduction has clearly intensified discussions on religious freedom, governance and international engagement in Nigeria.
