US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Address Religious Persecution in Nigeria

Legislation Aims to Combat Religious Persecution in Nigeria

Washington, D.C. – U.S. lawmakers have introduced new legislation, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457), aimed at addressing the escalating religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria. Introduced on February 10, 2026, by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, and Riley Moore (R-WV), the bill seeks to compel greater accountability from both the U.S. and Nigerian governments.

The proposed legislation mandates the U.S. Secretary of State to compile and submit a comprehensive report to Congress. This report is to detail U.S. efforts to tackle Christian persecution and other widespread atrocities in the West African nation.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 outlines several critical requirements for the Secretary of State's report. These include:

• An assessment of Nigeria's compliance with the International Religious Freedom Act.
• Specific actions taken, or not taken, by the Government of Nigeria to prevent persecution, prosecute perpetrators, repeal blasphemy laws, protect vulnerable communities, and facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons.
• Identification of all individuals and entities sanctioned, or under consideration for sanction, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act or the Entities of Particular Concern list.
• Consideration of whether Fulani militias should be formally designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
• A review of U.S. assistance to Nigeria to ensure it does not inadvertently enable or exacerbate religious persecution.

Rep. Smith stated that 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.'

Context of Violence and Persecution

The introduction of the bill comes amid long-standing concerns regarding religious freedom in Nigeria. Reports indicate widespread violence against Christians by groups such as Fulani militias, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Lawmakers cited figures estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025, with more than 19,000 churches attacked or destroyed during the same period.

In November 2025, President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a 'Country of Particular Concern' (CPC) due to ongoing, systemic persecution against Christians. Rep. Moore, who visited Nigeria as part of an investigation requested by President Trump, stated, 'For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced unspeakable violence—churches burned, villages destroyed, families slaughtered—while the global community looked away.'

Nigerian Government's Response and Broader Support

The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that its security challenges are complex and not solely driven by religion, attributing violence to terrorism, banditry, communal clashes, and criminal activity. When asked to comment on the bill, Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation declined to issue an immediate statement.

The legislation has garnered support from several other Republican lawmakers, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK). Rep. Cole emphasized that 'The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 makes it clear: religious persecution will not be tolerated.'