Two members of the United States House of Representatives, Chris Smith of New Jersey and Riley Moore of West Virginia, have introduced a bill that urges targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a Nigerian politician and former presidential candidate, as well as two cattle breeder groups, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The proposal, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, is listed as H.R. 7457 and was introduced by Smith and Moore alongside lawmakers Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga, according to the bill text.
In a “sense of Congress” section, the bill says the United States Department of State and the United States Department of the Treasury “should impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes” under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, and it specifically names the following for possible action: “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria,” “Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor,” “Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN),” and “Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.”
The bill also sets out a reporting requirement. It says that not later than 90 days after enactment, and annually thereafter while Nigeria remains designated a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act, the United States Secretary of State “shall submit” a comprehensive report to Congress on United States efforts to address “religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria,” including identifying individuals and entities sanctioned or under consideration for sanctions.
Under the Global Magnitsky law, the United States government is authorised to impose economic sanctions and deny entry into the United States to foreign individuals or entities identified as being involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption.
In announcing the legislation, Moore said: “The United States stands with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.”