Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) President Donald Trump acted justly by designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, in alignment with the recommendations provided by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.); (2) the Government of Nigeria has historically failed to adequately respond to or prevent religiously motivated violence and continues to tolerate impunity by extremist actors, in part by denying the religious nature of such extremism; (3) the United States should use all available diplomatic, humanitarian, economic, and security tools to pressure the Government of Nigeria to— (A) end impunity for perpetrators of mass atrocities and religious persecution; (B) protect Christian communities, clergy, and other targeted religious minorities; (C) enable the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced persons to their homelands, prioritizing persecuted Christian communities; and (D) ensure freedom of religion is protected by every level of government and that the proper legal channels ensure this right remains wholly intact, including the repeal of blasphemy laws and release prisoners detained for their faith; (4) United States Government engagement has encouraged the Nigerian Government to take positive steps towards addressing these threats by extremist groups and are encouraged to engage in a bilateral agreement to protect these vulnerable communities, eliminate jihadist terror activities, further economic cooperation, and counter mutual adversaries in the region; (5) there is bipartisan congressional support to consider appropriate security cooperation with Nigeria, including conditioning of foreign assistance as was done in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill signed into law by President Trump as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, to enhance efforts to protect innocent lives; (6) the United States should deliver humanitarian assistance, co-funded by the Government of Nigeria, through trusted civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations, in Nigeria’s middle belt states; (7) the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury should impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, on individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations, or report to Congress the reasons such sanctions have not been imposed, including— (A) Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria; (B) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor; (C) Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); and (D) Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore; (8) the Secretary of State should determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias in Nigeria qualify as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); (9) individuals and networks—domestic or foreign—that provide support to these Fulani-ethnic militias should be investigated and held accountable; (10) the Secretary of State should consider technical support to the Government of Nigeria to reduce and then eliminate violence from armed Fulani militias, including disarmament programs and comprehensive counter-terrorism cooperation to rid the region of Foreign Terrorist Organizations that pose a direct threat to the American homeland; (11) the Secretary of State should work with the Government of Nigeria to counteract the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias; (12) the Nigerian Government should thoroughly investigate instances of penalties or imprisonment under blasphemy laws or Sharia law and work to end these practices and repeal such laws; (13) the United States stands in solidarity with Christians and all persecuted religious minorities in Nigeria in their right to practice their faith without fear of violence, persecution, or death, and a future goodwill relationship between the United States and Nigeria hinges upon the Nigerian Government’s response moving forward to adequately address the atrocities described in this Act; (14) the Department of State is encouraged to enlist the support of international partners, including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to work with the Government of Nigeria to promote religious freedom and peace; and (15) the Government of Nigeria can play a key stabilizing role in the Sahel region and across the continent and is poised to deepen and strengthen their relationship with the United States if they will work with us to combat the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.