A new bill introduced in the United States Congress aims to impose targeted sanctions on the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, citing alleged severe violations of religious freedom against Christians in Nigeria.
The proposed measures include visa bans and asset freezes for individuals associated with these groups.
Representative Smith Christopher, who sponsored the bill, on Tuesday, commended US President Donald Trump for re-designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act. The CPC designation is reserved for countries believed to engage in or tolerate particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
This came as the Federal Government said, yesterday, that it remains calm and not in any panic mode over the position of the United States on the alleged genocide against Christians in the country.
The government also said that it has opened up channels of discussion with the US and assured that it is committed as ever to ensure that everyone is safe irrespective of religion or ethnic background.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has said that his administration will defeat terrorism and that he is determined to deepen global engagement and intensify the fight against terrorism and criminality.
President Tinubu, in apparent response to the threats of military attack by President Trump over the alleged persecution and killing of Christians in Nigeria, said that despite the political headwinds, the Nigerian government will continue to engage with its partners.
Tinubu’s remarks came after an economic briefing by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who reported that the administration’s reform agenda continues to stimulate investor confidence and deliver notable economic gains.
President Tinubu said: “The most important thing is the fact that despite the political headwinds and the fear of our people, we will continue to engage with our partners.
“So, the task ahead is immense. We are engaging the world diplomatically, and we assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism in the country.
“The task ahead is immense but we are resolved to move forward with unity and purpose, guided by renewed hope agenda to build a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Senior Pentagon officials reportedly acknowledged that limited airstrikes or drone operations are unlikely to end Nigeria’s protracted insurgency, unless the US undertakes a full-scale campaign. And according to the New York Times, the United States military is preparing contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria, following a directive from President Trump instructing the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.
US Congress’s push against MACBAN, others
In addition to the Miyetti Allah groups, the bill in the US Congress also adds “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau states to the list of Entities of Particular Concern, EPCs. EPCs are non-state actors accused of committing particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Other previously designated EPCs include Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Sahel, Houthis, and the Taliban.
The legislative move comes alongside remarks from US Senator Ted Cruz, who vowed to hold Nigerian officials accountable over claims of Christian persecution. Senator Cruz had earlier proposed the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” which called for targeted sanctions against federal or state officials who “promoted, enacted, or maintained Nigerian blasphemy laws,” including through public advocacy, legislative action, or executive enforcement.
Supporters of the US bills argue that these measures are necessary to address ongoing religious violence in Nigeria, where attacks on churches, Christian communities, and individuals have been reported in several northern and central states.
Critics, however, note that the Nigerian government has consistently denied that religion is a primary driver of insecurity, instead pointing to broader social, political, and economic factors contributing to violence in the country.
The proposed sanctions represent a significant escalation in US efforts to address religious freedom violations in Nigeria, potentially affecting not only group leaders but also their international operations and financial networks. Lawmakers behind the legislation say the aim is to hold perpetrators accountable while sending a message about the United States commitment to protecting religious minorities worldwide.
The bill is now under consideration in the US Congress, with its outcome likely to influence diplomatic relations between the United States and Nigeria, particularly regarding security cooperation and human rights issues.
