US Congress Targets Miyetti Allah with Proposed Visa Ban, Asset Freeze Over Christians Persecution
A new bill introduced in the U.S. Congress is calling for targeted sanctions against individuals and organizations accused of committing serious violations of religious freedom in Nigeria. The legislation recommends measures such as visa bans and asset freezes for those deemed responsible.
Among the groups named in the bill are the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, both of which lawmakers allege have been involved in acts infringing on religious rights.
The bill also places “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau States on the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act—a designation reserved for non-state actors implicated in severe abuses.
Representative Smith Christopher, who sponsored the bill on Tuesday, praised President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a classification that highlights nations with systemic religious freedom violations.
The EPC list already includes groups such as Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, and the Taliban, underscoring the seriousness of the designation.
On the same day, Senator Ted Cruz issued a statement pledging to hold Nigerian officials accountable for what he described as a “Christian genocide.” He promised to name specific individuals in the coming weeks.
Cruz had previously introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which seeks sanctions against federal and state officials who have supported or enforced blasphemy laws through legislation, public statements, or executive actions.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected these accusations, arguing that the country’s security challenges stem from terrorism and criminal violence, not religious persecution. Officials maintain that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from extremist attacks and that religion is not the driving force behind the unrest.
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