A group of Republican lawmakers in the United States has introduced a controversial bill seeking to designate Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), escalating international attention on Nigeria’s security and religious tensions.
The proposed legislation, titled the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, was introduced by Riley Moore and co-sponsored by Chris Smith and other Republican members of the House of Representatives.
If passed, the bill would compel the US Secretary of State to determine whether Fulani militias should be formally classified as a terrorist organisation and to submit yearly reports to Congress on alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.
The bill also seeks a review of US assistance to Nigeria to ensure that American support does not inadvertently fuel “religious persecution or systemic violence.”
Announcing the move on X, Moore wrote, “Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith,”
“The U.S. is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world.
“Our legislation will build upon the momentum of President Trump designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the recent US-Nigeria security framework agreement.”
Tagged HR 7457, the bill mandates annual briefings to the foreign affairs committees of both the House and Senate detailing efforts to address what lawmakers describe as widespread Christian persecution.
Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, accused the Nigerian government of failing to confront the violence.
“The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders has only enabled the religious-based violence in the country to fester, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented numbers,” Smith said.
The bill cites destruction of churches, kidnappings, sexual violence, and village attacks, claiming that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025.
Moore revealed that he had visited Nigeria on an assignment linked to President Donald Trump.
“As part of the investigation President Trump asked me to lead, I visited Nigeria and witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and saw the security challenges Nigeria faces,” Moore said.
He added that the legislation makes clear that “the United States stands with our persecuted Christians”.
Tom Cole, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, backed the move, saying the law would reinforce the message that “religious persecution will not be tolerated”.
Beyond security concerns, the bill also calls on the Secretary of State to counter what it describes as “the hostile foreign exploitation” of illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria.
Other co-sponsors include Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
The bill builds on Trump’s November 2025 designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a move that opened the door for diplomatic and economic measures.
Trump also authorised coordinated strikes with the Nigerian government against suspected militants on Christmas Day 2025, further deepening US involvement in Nigeria’s security landscape.
