WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation that would call for the designation of Fulani ethnic militias in Nigeria as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), citing ongoing religious violence.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced by Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) along with other Republican colleagues.
The bill directs the U.S. Secretary of State to assess whether Fulani militias should receive a formal terrorist designation and requires annual reports to Congress on efforts to combat religious persecution in Nigeria.
It also calls for a review of U.S. assistance to Nigeria to ensure American aid does not inadvertently support systemic violence or religious persecution.Rep. Moore announced the legislation on X on Tuesday, February 10, stating, “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 U.S.-Nigeria security framework agreement.”HR 7457 mandates that the Secretary of State submit annual reports to the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees detailing measures to address what the bill describes as persecution of Christians in Nigeria
Rep.Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, emphasized the U.S. role in holding Nigeria accountable. “The Nigerian government’s denial of religious persecution within its borders has allowed violence to continue unchecked, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented levels,” he said.
The legislation cites widespread attacks including church burnings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and assaults on villages, estimating that 50,000 to 125,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria between 2009 and 2025.Rep.
Moore, who visited Nigeria as part of an investigation initiated by former President Donald Trump, said the bill reflects firsthand observations of the violence. “I witnessed the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and the security challenges Nigeria confronts.
This legislation demonstrates that the United States stands with our persecuted Christians,” he said.
