In a significant move to address escalating violence against Christians in Nigeria, U.S. Representative Riley Moore (R-WV) and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, have introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457).
The legislation, backed by prominent figures including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Appropriations Vice Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Foreign Affairs South and East Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga (R-MI), aims to increase transparency and pressure on both U.S. and Nigerian responses to what sponsors describe as systematic religious persecution and mass atrocities targeting Christian communities.
Under the bill, the U.S. Secretary of State would be required to submit an annual comprehensive report to Congress detailing American efforts to combat religious persecution in Nigeria.
The measure also directs the Secretary to evaluate options such as designating Fulani militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), reviewing existing sanctions on individuals involved in violence, and assessing whether U.S. foreign assistance inadvertently contributes to or fails to mitigate Christian persecution.
Rep. Moore emphasized the moral imperative driving the initiative. “The U.S. is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world,” he stated in announcing the bill.
He highlighted that the legislation builds on prior actions, including the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom and recent U.S.-Nigeria security framework agreements.
Rep. Smith, a long-time advocate for international religious freedom, described the bill as a step toward ending what he called “the silence on mass Christian killings” in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions, where attacks by armed groups — often identified as Fulani militias — have resulted in thousands of deaths over recent years.
The introduction comes amid heightened international attention to Nigeria’s security challenges, including ongoing violence that has displaced communities and drawn criticism for inadequate government response.
Advocacy groups and religious freedom monitors have long pointed to Nigeria as one of the deadliest places globally for Christians, with reports documenting targeted killings, abductions, and destruction of places of worship.
The bill is expected to advance quickly in the House, given its strong bipartisan and committee-level support.
Sponsors argue it represents continued momentum from previous congressional actions, including resolutions condemning the persecution and calls for decisive measures to protect religious minorities.
As the legislation moves forward, it underscores growing U.S. congressional focus on holding perpetrators accountable and supporting vulnerable faith communities in one of Africa’s most populous nations.
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