Some Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have sponsored legislation that seeks to designate Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) for “religious violence” in Nigeria.

Riley Moore introduced the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, which was co-sponsored by Chris Smith and other Republican politicians.

The measure directs the US secretary of state to explore whether Fulani militias should be legally recognised as terrorist organisations and to provide annual updates to Congress on actions to combat alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.

It also calls for a review of US aid to Nigeria to ensure that it does not unwittingly facilitate religious persecution or systematic violence.

Moore, a Republican lawmaker from West Virginia, revealed the planned legislation in a post on X on Tuesday.

“Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith,” he wrote.

“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.”

The measure, HR 7457, directs the US secretary of state to submit an annual report to the foreign affairs committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate describing actions to combat what it defines as Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, stated that the US has a responsibility to urge Nigeria to address chronic violence.

“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,” Smith said.

The bill mentions church demolition, kidnappings, sexual assault, and village attacks, and estimates that between 2009 and 2025, 50,000 to 125,000 Christians were slain.

Moore stated that he visited Nigeria as part of an inquiry launched by President Donald Trump.

“As part of the investigation President Trump asked me to lead, I visited Nigeria and witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and saw the security challenges Nigeria faces,” Moore said.

He added that the bill demonstrates that “the United States stands with our persecuted Christians”.

Tom Cole, a Republican representative from Oklahoma and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, stated that supporting religious liberty across the world matches with US interests and duties.

Cole stated that the new law will strengthen efforts to ensure that “religious persecution will not be tolerated”.

The bill also directs the secretary of state to combat what it deems “the hostile foreign exploitation” of unlawful Chinese mining enterprises in Nigeria.

The bill’s co-sponsors include Brian Mast, Republican congressman from Florida and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican representative from Florida; and Bill Huizenga, Republican representative from Michigan.

In November 2025, Trump classified Nigeria as a nation of special concern, allowing the US executive branch to take diplomatic and economic action.

Trump also approved joint operations with the Nigerian government against suspected insurgents on Christmas Day 2025.