US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Address Religious Persecution and Atrocities in Nigeria

Legislation Introduced to Combat Persecution

U.S. lawmakers, led by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, and Representative Riley Moore (R-WV), introduced the 'Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026' (H.R. 7457) on February 10, 2026. The proposed legislation requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing efforts to address Christian persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

The bill has garnered support from several other prominent lawmakers, including House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL), Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security and Related Programs Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Foreign Affairs South and East Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga (R-MI).

Mandate for Accountability and Transparency

The core of the 'Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026' is its demand for increased transparency and accountability from the U.S. State Department regarding the situation in Nigeria. The mandated report to Congress must include:

• An assessment of Nigeria's compliance with the International Religious Freedom Act.
• Specific actions taken, or not taken, by the Nigerian government to prevent persecution, prosecute perpetrators, repeal blasphemy laws, protect vulnerable communities, and facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons.
• Identification of individuals and entities sanctioned, or under consideration for sanction, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act or the Entities of Particular Concern list.

Representative Moore emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, 'For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced unspeakable violence—churches burned, villages destroyed, families slaughtered—while the global community looked away.' He added that he witnessed these 'horrors' firsthand during an investigation he led at the request of President Trump.

Context of Widespread Violence

The introduction of the bill comes amidst ongoing concerns about religious freedom and security in Nigeria. Lawmakers cited alarming statistics, estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025, with over 19,000 churches attacked or destroyed during the same period. These atrocities are largely attributed to extremist groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed Fulani militias.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the attacks by Fulani militias as 'genocide.' The legislation also seeks to consider designating Fulani militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Furthermore, the bill highlights concerns over Nigeria's enforcement of blasphemy laws in 12 northern states, which carry severe penalties, including the death penalty.

Building on Previous Efforts

This legislation builds upon previous efforts to address religious persecution in Nigeria. President Trump had previously pushed to designate Nigeria as a 'Country of Particular Concern' (CPC) due to systemic persecution against Christians. The bill's sponsors believe that the U.S. has a responsibility to ensure the Nigerian government takes appropriate steps to address and punish violence against religious communities.

While the Nigerian government has consistently maintained that its security challenges are complex and not solely driven by religion, attributing violence to terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes, the U.S. lawmakers' initiative underscores persistent international scrutiny of the situation.