US Lawmakers Want Herdsmen Designated As Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO

Some Republican lawmakers in the United States house of representatives have introduced a bill seeking the possible designation of Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) over “religious violence” in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation, titled the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, was introduced by Riley Moore and co-sponsored by Chris Smith, alongside other Republican lawmakers.

The bill calls on the US secretary of state to consider whether Fulani militias should be formally designated as a terrorist organisation and to submit annual reports to congress on efforts to address alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.

It also urges a review of US assistance to Nigeria to ensure that American support does not inadvertently enable religious persecution or systemic violence.

Moore, republican representative from West Virginia, announced the proposed 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 bill, tagged HR 7457, calls on the US secretary of state to submit an annual report to the foreign affairs committees in the house of representatives and the senate detailing efforts to address what it describes as Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Smith, chairman of the house foreign affairs Africa subcommittee, said the United States has a responsibility to pressure Nigeria to act against systemic 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 references destruction of churches, kidnappings, sexual violence, and attacks on villages, estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025.

Moore said he visited Nigeria as part of an investigation initiated 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, republican representative from Oklahoma and chairman of the house appropriations committee, said defending religious liberty globally aligns with US interests and responsibilities.

Cole said the proposed law would reinforce efforts to ensure that “religious persecution will not be tolerated”.

The legislation also calls on the secretary of state to counter what it describes as “the hostile foreign exploitation” of illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria.

Brian Mast, republican representative from Florida and chairman of the house foreign affairs committee; Mario Diaz-Balart, republican representative from Florida; and Bill Huizenga, republican representative from Michigan; are among other co-sponsors of the bill.

In November 2025, Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, a move that allows the US executive branch to apply diplomatic and economic measures.

Trump also authorised coordinated strikes with the Nigerian government against suspected militants on Christmas Day 2025.