US Lawmakers Move to Sanction Kwankwaso, Miyetti Allah Over “Religious Persecution”
WASHINGTON D.C. — A group of influential Republican lawmakers in the United States Congress has introduced a new bill that specifically targets former Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the leadership of Miyetti Allah for severe diplomatic and financial sanctions.
The bill, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Riley Moore (R-West Virginia) and veteran Congressman Chris Smith (R-New Jersey).
If passed, the legislation would mandate the US State Department to impose visa bans and asset freezes on the named individuals and entities, citing their alleged roles in “systematic religious persecution” and violence in Nigeria.
The Target List
In a move that has shocked Nigeria’s diplomatic circles, the bill explicitly names specific targets rather than just general government officials. Rabiu Kwankwaso: The NNPP National Leader is targeted for his historical role in “introducing and enforcing Sharia criminal law” in Kano State, which the lawmakers argue created a permissive environment for religious extremism. Miyetti Allah: Both the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are listed. The bill seeks to designate them and “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias” as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
“The US is a Christian Nation”
Representative Riley Moore, announcing the bill on X (formerly Twitter), did not mince words regarding the motivation behind the legislation. “The US is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world,” Moore wrote. “Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 to hold perpetrators accountable.”
Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom, praised the move, describing the bill as a necessary step to stop the “impunity” enjoyed by political godfathers and militia leaders in Nigeria.
What the Bill Demands
The proposed legislation goes beyond mere condemnation. It compels the US President to: Trigger the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to freeze any US-based assets of the named individuals. Bar Kwankwaso and Miyetti Allah leaders from entering the United States. Force a review of whether Fulani militias meet the legal criteria for terrorist designation, placing them in the same category as Boko Haram.
Implications for 2027
Political analysts in Abuja view this as a potential “death blow” to Kwankwaso’s international standing ahead of the 2027 general elections. “If this bill passes, Kwankwaso becomes a global pariah,” said Dr. Chinedu Okafor, a foreign policy expert. “You cannot run for President of Nigeria if you are banned from entering the United States. It frames him not as a statesman, but as a religious hardliner.”
As of Wednesday morning, neither the Kwankwaso media office nor the Miyetti Allah leadership has issued an official response to the development.