House Republicans have introduced a bill Tuesday to prompt U.S. action to document “religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.”
The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, HR 7457, calls on the Secretary of State to give the foreign affairs committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate an annual report on U.S. efforts to address Christian persecution. It also calls on the secretary to consider whether to designate the Fulani ethnic militias a Foreign Terrorist Organization, take a look at sanctioned individuals and weigh whether U.S. assistance in Nigeria encourages Christian persecution.
New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee; Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; and West Virginia Republican Rep. Riley Moore co-sponsored the bill. It would continue actions already taken by the legislative and executive branches to combat Nigerian terrorism.
The bill requires annual state reports to congress on US efforts against mass atrocities, potential sanctions on Fulani militias, and aid to displaced persons.
It also responds to Nigeria’s top ranking for Christian persecution, with 3440 faith-related killings last year as reported by Open Doors, as Fulani militants and groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP destroy churches and displace millions.
Speaking via a statement on his X handle on Tuesday Congress man, Riley Moore said, said the bill will build upon the momentum of President Trump designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the recent US-Nigeria security framework agreement.
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