US Congress Mulls Visa Ban, Asset Freeze Against Nigerian Miyetti Allah Members

US Congress Considers Sanctions Against Nigerian Miyetti Allah Members

In a significant move reflecting growing international concern over religious freedom violations in Nigeria, the United States Congress is deliberating a bill that proposes visa bans and asset freezes targeting members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

This legislative initiative was introduced by Congressman Christopher Smith, who cited the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) as the legal framework for the proposed sanctions. The bill specifically aims to hold accountable individuals and groups deemed responsible for or complicit in severe violations of religious liberty.

The impetus for this action stems from persistent reports of attacks on Christian communities, particularly in Benue and Plateau States. Congressman Smith praised President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a classification reserved for nations where egregious religious persecution occurs.

The bill also identifies Fulani-Ethnic Militias operating in central Nigeria as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs), placing them in the same category as notorious groups like Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Sahel, the Taliban, and the Houthis.

If enacted, the legislation would empower U.S. authorities to impose visa restrictions and freeze financial assets of individuals and organizations linked to these entities. This development follows a directive from President Trump to Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria and report their findings.

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Moore emphasized the urgency of addressing what he described as the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians,” urging immediate action.

The Nigerian government has rejected these allegations, asserting that the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship. However, U.S. officials have dismissed this response as inadequate, citing ongoing religiously motivated violence.

The proposed bill adds to a growing list of congressional actions scrutinizing Nigeria’s human rights record. Notably, in September, Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747), co-sponsored by five other senators including Ted Budd. This bill seeks to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC status and impose sanctions on officials found complicit in religious violence.

Lawmakers backing these measures claim that over 52,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, with more than 20,000 churches and Christian institutions destroyed or attacked.

Should the new legislation pass, it would mandate the U.S. State Department to submit annual human rights reports on Nigeria and recommend visa bans or financial sanctions where violations persist.