The United States House of Representatives has introduced a new bill seeking to impose visa bans and asset freezes on members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and its affiliate, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, over alleged involvement in religious persecution and attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
The proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 directs the U.S. State and Treasury Departments to apply targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedoms. It also urges that Fulani militias operating in Benue and Plateau States be classified as “Entities of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The bill further recommends that future U.S. aid to Nigeria be tied to measurable progress in protecting human rights and religious liberty.
While Washington lawmakers describe the proposal as a step toward accountability, leaders of Miyetti Allah have rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated and misleading. Nigerian officials have yet to issue a formal response, though diplomatic sources say consultations are ongoing.
If passed, the legislation could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations and subject key figures within the herders’ association to international travel and financial restrictions. The bill is currently before a House committee for further consideration.
