₦airaland Forum

US Lawmakers Introduce New Bill On Nigeria Including Potential Sanctions For Fulani Militias, Ex-Gov Kwankwaso
February 11, 2026
NEWS

United States lawmakers have introduced a new legislation aimed at increasing accountability for human rights abuses in Nigeria, including potential sanctions against Fulani militias and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

According to the lawmakers, the proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the impact of previous US actions in Nigeria.

“Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith,” US Representative Riley Moore stated.

Moore, a Republican, emphasised the US commitment to global religious freedom, adding, “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 US-Nigeria security framework agreement,” he said, referencing past measures targeting religious persecution and security cooperation.

Legal experts and advocates have highlighted the bill’s focus on accountability for specific actors involved in religiously motivated violence.

Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom, praised the bipartisan effort, noting, “Powerhouse team of Rep. Chris Smith & Rep Riley Moore today introduced a new bill on religious freedom in Nigeria increasing accountability measures, incl recs for sanctions against Fulani militias and former Kano State gov Kwankwaso, who intro’d Sharia criminal law there.”

The legislation comes amid growing international attention on the rise of sectarian violence in Nigeria.

The bill specifically recommends sanctions against armed groups accused of perpetrating violence and government figures who have enacted or supported laws that critics say infringe on religious freedoms.

Observers note that the bill signals a stronger US willingness to tie security and economic cooperation with human rights benchmarks. By linking sanctions directly to accountability for abuses, the proposed law could influence how Nigeria addresses religiously motivated attacks in the future.

The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 is expected to undergo committee review in the US House of Representatives, with supporters urging quick consideration given the urgency of ongoing religious freedom concerns.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that United States would deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to provide training and technical support to the country’s armed forces, with both governments stressing that the personnel will not participate in direct combat operations.

The deployment, confirmed on Tuesday by Nigerian and US officials, marks an expansion of military cooperation between Washington and Abuja as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgent and terror groups.

“We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support,” Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, told AFP.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the additional 200 troops will supplement a small US team already in Nigeria assisting with air strike targeting. The reinforcements are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and will focus on strengthening operational coordination between Nigerian forces.

The US personnel will provide “training and technical guidance,” including helping Nigerian counterparts better coordinate operations involving air strikes and ground troops simultaneously, the newspaper reported.

Despite the scale-up, Nigerian authorities were emphatic that the American troops would not be drawn into frontline fighting.

“US troops aren't going to be involved in direct combat or operations,” Uba told the Journal, underscoring that their role would be limited to advisory and support functions.

He added that Nigeria requested the additional assistance as part of efforts to enhance the effectiveness of its security operations against extremist groups operating in parts of the country.

Nigeria has battled insurgency for more than a decade, particularly in the North-East, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out attacks on both civilian and military targets. The conflict has led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.

The expanded cooperation comes amid diplomatic pressure from Washington over insecurity in Nigeria. US President Donald Trump has previously described the situation as “persecution” and “genocide” against Christians.

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations that the violence amounts to a targeted campaign of Christian persecution, describing such claims as a mischaracterisation of a complex security crisis driven by terrorism, banditry and communal conflicts.

SaharaReporters

The legislation comes amid growing international attention on the rise of sectarian violence in Nigeria.

Thank you Mr Screwdriver for having a direct line to communicate with president Trump

I hope some people will find it easy to sleep tonight.

Nice one, anybody that has a hand in the shit of insecurity must be seriously dealt with, however both Muslims and Christians must be having freedom to do their religions without bias. Kwankwoso shouldn't be prosecuted based on any non visible wrong doing.

Kwakwanso? The projected VP candidate?

Seriously, that doesn't sound right. Kwakwanso hasn't been seen in that light from here.

Whatever happened to certain former Kaduna and Borno Gov?

One by one, they'll all be fished out

Some funny stories
Told by senior clowns from
The white settlers of the native black nation

Way to go, if it is true. Kwankwaso was not the person that introduced sharia law, but Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara

All Nigerian leaders found wanting should be sanctioned.

Who's Andrew liversalt now.


If you think tinubu will go scotfree without US sanctions then you are naive my friend.

Ok following let see how it goes

Human right abuse is very important. Some of these govt officials behave like deputy god. Their own too much. U can’t talk to some of them. Imagine a minister bragging how he sent people to forcefully collect someone’s land Bcus she complained.

Endsars comes to mind. Someone has to be held accountable. Not to mention other wicked acts by some people


Shame on our investigative jonarlism news agencies. Cowards

Oops, that means Obi / Kankwaso CAN'T happen.

Good one if Kwankwaso is involved, although this might be political.
Tinubu might be coming for Kwankwaso in order to destabilize him because I'm %100 sure Tinubu can never win north by free and fair and the northerners would rather vote Kwankwaso than to vote Atiku.
It's all about politics.

So this one too is part of our problem. Please, sanction home and disgrace him

Obidients won’t know whether to be happy with this or not. Their so-called “heavyweight northern VP” is about to be sanctioned. You can only imagine the kind of happiness and jubilation in their camp, had Kwankwaso already joined APC before this report. Now, they’re the ones stuck with the garbage. Tinubu is serving a living God

PDPdestroyer:
Obidients won’t know whether to be happy with this or not. Their so-called “heavyweight northern VP” is about to be sanctioned

Dey play. FBI go soon do ur oga strong thing.

Obi kwankwanso that was pipedream is now fully buried in the mud

Nzogbu won't know wether to hail trump or curse him now

Whether they designate him officially or not, the mess has been created

PDPdestroyer:
Obidients won’t know whether to be happy with this or not. Their so-called “heavyweight northern VP” is about to be sanctioned

If it can get to Obidients it will also get to Badist. It's just time bro.

Sharia law has no place in Nigeria, go to Sudan or Saudi Arabia, dominique inform your people...

Now I know why the terrorists list giving by the UAE and the US have not been made public, is because of suppose big names on the list, that's why Gov is not ready to roll out the names yet. Eg, malami and now kwankwaso

Obi/Kwankwaso for 2027! 😎

Shout power!!! 😂

Bet don cut before dem announce lineup 🤣. Ticket ti la'sident

Una go learn this politics by fire by force. Who is next? Atiku? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Fire dey go, Jagaban!

Elimination process has begun. I like this. You may hear El Rufai in this too. Since we are now using the US for our elections and not UK anymore, this fight go long. I like it

Obi/Saraki recommended

Be expecting the CSOs, cashivist and so called human rights activists/Lawyers oppositions storming the streets of Abuja and Kano crying against this bill!

Okay. Keep the new bills coming

Be expecting the CSOs, cashivist and so called human rights activists/Lawyers oppositions storming the streets of Abuja and Kano crying against this bill!

Why not Gumi and Elrufai. This doesn't take into consideration the public outcry against Gumi as regards his activities with the bandits

Soon Gumi will follow
Okan gbogbo yin o ni bale.
God of isreal has answered Nigeria alter calls 📞 🙏

No be your messiah in ADC be that, i hope Obasanjo and obi are aware of this

Lovenorth:
Nice one, anybody that has a hand in the shit of insecurity must be seriously dealt with, however both Muslims and Christians must be having freedom to do their religions without bias. Kwankwoso shouldn't be prosecuted based on any non visible wrong doing.

manuelkel:
Good one if Kwankwaso is involved, although this might be political.
Tinubu might be coming for Kwankwaso in order to destabilize him because I'm %100 sure Tinubu can never win north by free and fair and the northerners would rather vote Kwankwaso than to vote Atiku.
It's all about politics.

No one is coming for anyone. If USA is mentioning certain names, it’s purely based on intelligence.

Also, ask yourself…. The reason terrorism is persisting and won’t go away is because there are political sponsors financing them, and government has been weak or inept in rooting them out. USA is now determined to put a final end to it, ensuring prayers of victims finally answered.