US Lawmakers Push Visa Ban, Asset Freeze on Miyetti Allah Over Alleged Religious Persecution in Nigeria

A new bill before the United States Congress has proposed visa restrictions and asset freezes on individuals and groups accused of severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation specifically named the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as entities of concern.

Christopher Smith, a member of the US House of Representatives, sponsored the bill, commending former President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.

According to Smith, the bill also lists the “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States among the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) — a category reserved for non-state actors implicated in grave religious freedom abuses.

Other groups previously designated as EPCs include Boko Haram, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, the Taliban, and the Houthis.

The bill’s introduction coincided with remarks by US Senator Ted Cruz, who vowed to hold Nigerian officials accountable for what he described as “Christian persecution and genocide.”

“I intend to be very explicit about who they are in the coming days and weeks,” Cruz said.

In October, Cruz had earlier proposed the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, seeking sanctions against federal or state officials who allegedly promoted or enforced blasphemy laws in Nigeria.

However, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected the claims, insisting that religion is not a major factor in the country’s security challenges.

The debate over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria continues to attract international attention, with the government maintaining that insecurity stems largely from socio-economic and criminal factors rather than faith-based divisions.