The United States House of Representatives has introduced a resolution urging the Departments of State and Treasury to impose “targeted sanctions” on specific “individuals and organisations,” including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, over alleged violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The resolution, filed as H. Res. 860 in the 119th Congress, was submitted by Rep. Christopher Smith with Rep. Paul Huizenga as a co-sponsor.
The measure “commends President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a CPC” (Country of Particular Concern), a declaration Trump made over the past weekend.
The sponsors “decried the alleged worsening persecution of Christians and other religious minorities” and cited a “catalogue of findings and reports,” including NGO data, alleging large-scale attacks on civilians and a “pattern of impunity.”
The resolution reads, in part, that “For over a decade, Islamic terror organisations have carried out mass murder, rape, kidnappings, and other atrocities targeting mostly Nigerian Christians and non-Fulani moderate Muslim populations, resulting in mass displacement and destruction of places of worship.”
It also notes that “Prominent Christian and Muslim leaders have been kidnapped or assassinated, including priests, pastors, and imams who advocate for religious tolerance.”
The document further cited testimony from religious leaders like “Father Remigius Iyhula and Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who testified on March 12, 2025… about the persecution and targeted killings of Christians in the Diocese of Makurdi,” and who have since faced “intimidation, threats, and harassment from both extremist groups and government authorities.”
Supporters moved that “President Donald Trump acted appropriately and decisively to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and hold the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in religious persecution by radical Islamists, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists.”
They argued that the designation “will enhance diplomatic efforts to encourage the Nigerian government to take necessary actions to protect religious minorities and uphold fundamental human rights.”
The resolution then called for specific actions, including imposing “targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky framework and other restrictive measures,” on entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations, specifically recommending sanctions against “Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.”
It also recommended placing “Fulani-Ethnic Militias operating in Benue and Plateau States on the Entities of Particular Concern List under the International Religious Freedom Act.”
Furthermore, the sponsors recommended “conditioning US foreign assistance on demonstrable steps by Nigeria to prevent persecution, prosecute alleged perpetrators, and care for displaced populations” and requested the State Department to provide “immediate humanitarian assistance directly to faith-based groups to support internally displaced people in Nigeria’s middle belt states.”
The resolution was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
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