US Congress Pushes Terror Designation For Fulani Militias, Reviews Support To Nigeria

A bill seeking the possible designation of Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) over alleged religious violence in Nigeria has been introduced by Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation, titled the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, was sponsored by Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia and co-sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith, alongside several other Republican lawmakers.

The bill calls on the US Secretary of State to determine whether Fulani militias meet the criteria for designation as a terrorist organisation and mandates the submission of annual reports to Congress on efforts to address alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.

It also urged a comprehensive review of US assistance to Nigeria to ensure that American support does not inadvertently enable religious persecution or systemic violence.

Moore announced the introduction of the bill in a post on X on Tuesday, describing it as part of a broader effort to defend persecuted Christians globally.

“Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith,” Moore wrote.

“The U.S. is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world.”

He added that the legislation builds on “the momentum of President Trump designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the recent US–Nigeria security framework agreement.”

The bill, tagged HR 7457, requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to the House and Senate foreign affairs committees detailing actions taken to address what it describes as Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said Washington has a responsibility to pressure the Nigerian government to confront what he described as systemic religious 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 legislation cites incidents including the destruction of churches, kidnappings, sexual violence, and attacks on rural communities, estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025.

Moore said his position was informed by a visit to Nigeria as part of an investigation initiated by former 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,” he said.

He added that the bill sends a clear message that “the United States stands with our persecuted Christians.”

Also backing the bill, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said defending religious liberty globally aligns with US national interests and values.

Cole said the proposed law would reinforce efforts to ensure that “religious persecution will not be tolerated.”

Beyond religious freedom concerns, the bill also calls on the Secretary of State to counter what it describes as “hostile foreign exploitation,” including illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria.

Other co-sponsors include Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida; and Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan.

LEADERSHIP recalls that in November 2025, President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a move that authorises the US executive branch to apply diplomatic and economic measures. Trump also approved coordinated strikes with the Nigerian government against suspected militants on Christmas Day 2025.