The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has expressed shock over reports that the United States Congress is considering a bill recommending targeted sanctions against its national leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over alleged religious freedom violations.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, described the move as contrived and unjust, insisting that Kwankwaso has no record of religious intolerance.
The party argued that Kano was not the only state to implement Sharia law and questioned why other governors who also signed the Sharia law were not similarly named for sanctions.
It also cited Kwankwaso’s past support for interfaith collaboration, including running with a Christian vice-presidential candidate in 2023.
The NNPP called on U.S. lawmakers to conduct a thorough and fair investigation to clear what it described as an undue embarrassment of its leader.
Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have introduced new legislation targeting alleged religious persecution in Nigeria – including a proposal to designate Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
The bill, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, also calls for sanctions against specific individuals and groups.
Republican members of Congress are pushing for tougher U.S action over what they describe as ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation urges the U.S. Secretary of State to consider formally designating Fulani ethnic militias as Foreign Terrorist Organisation – a move that would significantly expand U.S legal and financial restrictions against the groups.
The bill also calls for targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals, organisations, and companies accused of severe violations of religious freedom.
It also aims to counteract Chinese mining operations in Nigeria as part of measures to tackle religious freedom violations and extremism by terrorist groups
Among those named in the legislation are former presidential candidate and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and Fulani ethnic nomadic militias. The lawmakers are also seeking a review of already sanctioned individuals and an assessment of whether U.S assistance to Nigeria could, directly or indirectly, be contributing to religious persecution.
If passed, the bill would require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to congressional Foreign Affairs committees detailing efforts to address the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The bill would need to pass both chambers of Congress before becoming law and its prospects remain uncertain.
Supporters say the legislation is aimed at strengthening accountability and increasing American engagement on religious freedom concerns in the West African country.
The lawmakers cited estimates that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025, with more than 19,000 churches destroyed. They also referenced attacks in Yelwata, the Christmas eve massacres of 2023 and 2024, and the Holy Week and Easter attacks of 2024 and 2025, which they said left more than 9,500 people, mostly Christians, dead and displaced over half a million others.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
