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By Seyi Babalola
Some Republican legislators in the United States House of Representatives have introduced bill that seeks to designate Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) over “religious violence” in Nigeria.
Riley Moore introduced the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, which was co-sponsored by Chris Smith and other Republican lawmakers.
The bill calls on the US secretary of state to consider whether Fulani militias should be formally designated as a terrorist organisation and to submit annual reports to congress on efforts to address alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.
It also urges a review of US assistance to Nigeria to ensure that American support does not inadvertently enable religious persecution or systemic violence.
Moore, a Republican representative from West Virginia, revealed the proposed legislation in a post on X on Tuesday.
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“Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith,” he wrote.
“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.”
The measure, HR 7457, directs the US secretary of state to submit an annual report to the foreign affairs committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate describing actions to combat what it defines as Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, stated that the US has a responsibility to pressure Nigeria to address chronic 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.
