US Lawmakers Introduce Bill Seeking Terrorist Designation for Fulani Militias [DETAILS]

Some Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have introduced a bill seeking to designate Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) over alleged religious violence in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced by Representative Riley Moore and co-sponsored by Representative Chris Smith alongside other Republican legislators. The bill calls on the U.S. Secretary of State to assess whether Fulani militias meet the criteria for terrorist designation and to provide Congress with annual reports on efforts to address claims of religious persecution in Nigeria.

According to Moore, the measure is intended to strengthen U.S. oversight of Nigeria’s security situation and ensure that American assistance does not contribute to what the sponsors describe as systemic religious violence. The lawmaker announced the proposal in a post shared on X, saying the legislation builds on previous U.S. actions that raised concerns about religious freedom in Nigeria.

“Our legislation will build upon the momentum of President Trump designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the recent U.S.-Nigeria security framework agreement,” Moore said.

The bill, listed as HR 7457, directs the State Department to submit yearly updates to the foreign affairs committees of both chambers of Congress detailing steps taken to confront what it describes as persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Chris Smith, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, argued that Washington must increase pressure on Nigerian authorities to address persistent violence. He accused the Nigerian government of downplaying religious dimensions of the crisis, warning that continued inaction could worsen attacks on communities and places of worship.

If passed, the legislation could influence future U.S. security cooperation and aid decisions relating to Nigeria. As of the time of filing this report, Nigerian authorities had not issued an official response to the proposed bill.