US Lawmakers Crack Down on Miyetti Allah Over Faith-Based Violence

A bill introduced in the United States Congress is proposing targeted sanctions on members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, over allegations of involvement in religious persecution across Nigeria.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Smith Christopher, seeks visa restrictions and asset freezes against individuals and groups found complicit in severe violations of religious freedom.

Christopher introduced the proposal on Tuesday, shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a label reserved for nations accused of failing to protect religious freedoms.

“President Trump acted appropriately and decisively to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and hold the government accountable for its complicity in persecution by radical Islamists such as Boko Haram and Fulani extremists,” the lawmaker said.

Under the International Religious Freedom Act, countries or entities listed as CPCs face a range of possible sanctions, including travel bans and the freezing of foreign assets.

The bill also mentioned that the U.S. has placed “Fulani Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States on its Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) list, a classification for non-state actors accused of gross human rights abuses.

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If passed, the legislation will authorize direct U.S. humanitarian support to faith-based organizations assisting victims of religious violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Aid and Policy Conditions

Beyond sanctions, the proposed law calls for U.S. foreign aid, including global health and development assistance, to be conditioned on Nigeria’s concrete actions to address religious persecution. It urges the Nigerian government to prosecute offenders, compensate victims, and uphold constitutional protections for freedom of belief.

Christopher’s bill comes alongside a parallel effort by Senator Ted Cruz, who recently reintroduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, aiming to protect Christian and minority groups in the country.

Following the CPC designation, Trump also warned that the U.S. could consider military intervention if Nigerian authorities fail to protect religious communities from ongoing violence.