Kwankwaso and Miyetti Allah Risk U.S. Visa Bans as New Bill Targets ‘Religious Freedom Violators’

The political career of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has hit a diplomatic storm following the introduction of a new bill in the United States Congress that seeks to bar him and other high-profile Nigerian figures from entering America.

Introduced on Tuesday by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 marks a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure on Abuja. The legislation specifically names Kwankwaso alongside powerful groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), accusing them of being complicit in religious-based violence and the systematic persecution of religious minorities in Nigeria.

“The United States should impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on individuals responsible for religious freedom violations,” the bill reads, pointing directly to Kwankwaso’s tenure and influence as a focal point for the proposed restrictions.

The move follows a hardline shift in U.S. foreign policy toward West Africa under the current Trump administration. Last December, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy targeting those linked to anti-Christian violence, and this latest bill aims to codify those names into law. Congressman Moore, who recently visited Nigeria’s Middle Belt, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the U.S. can no longer “look away” while villages are destroyed and families are slaughtered.

The bill also seeks to designate certain Fulani militias as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that would have massive implications for Nigeria’s internal security and international standing.

For Kwankwaso and the leadership of Miyetti Allah, the threat of being placed on the “Global Magnitsky” list means more than just travel restrictions; it could lead to the freezing of foreign bank accounts and a total lockout from the Western financial system. As the bill moves through the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the “State of Harmony” between Nigeria and its long-time ally appears increasingly fragile, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio recently warning that American pressure has become relentless.