U.S. Senate Strikes! New Bill To Expose And Punish Nigerian Governors, Judges, And Security Chiefs

A new bill currently advancing through the United States Congress has placed Nigeria under intense international scrutiny, proposing far-reaching sanctions against Nigerian political leaders, judges, and security officials accused of enabling or ignoring religious persecution.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, the proposed law—titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”—has passed its second reading in the US Senate and has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, marking a major step toward what could become one of America’s toughest policy positions toward Nigeria in recent decades.

The bill follows House Resolution 594, which already has the support of 18 Republican members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Findings and Data Behind the Bill

The proposed legislation cites findings from multiple international watchdogs, including the Open Doors World Watch List 2025, which reports that:

• Over 380 million Christians face severe persecution globally.

• Nigeria accounts for 82% of the 4,998 Christians killed worldwide in 2023.

Reports from Vatican News and Genocide Watch further claim that between 2009 and 2023, at least 52,000 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims were killed in Nigeria, while nearly five million Nigerians were displaced due to faith-based attacks.

Senator Cruz described the situation as “endemic religious persecution” driven by Islamist extremism and institutionalized Sharia law in parts of Nigeria, calling for urgent legislative action.

“Religious persecution and violence against Christians and other minorities in Nigeria is endemic,” Cruz said. “Congress must act expeditiously.”

Nigeria May Be Declared a ‘Country of Particular Concern’

One of the most consequential provisions of the bill instructs the US Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” under U.S. international religious freedom laws.

If enacted, this would trigger automatic sanctions, including restrictions on:

• U.S. military cooperation and arms sales

• Economic assistance and development programs

• Intelligence sharing and training

The bill mandates annual public reports listing:

• Nigerian officials, judges, and security agents implicated in religious killings

• Enforcers of blasphemy laws

• Individuals involved in persecuting religious minorities

The first list would be published within 90 days of the law’s passage and updated yearly.

12 Northern States Named Over Blasphemy Laws

The legislation explicitly identifies 12 northern Nigerian states—Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Yobe—for maintaining Islamic blasphemy laws, which it says violate international standards on religious freedom.

The bill demands that Nigeria:

• Amend or repeal such laws,

• Prosecute those involved in religious killings, and

• Dismantle extremist networks.

Failure to comply would keep Nigeria on the CPC blacklist indefinitely.

Governors, Judges, and Security Officials Face Possible Sanctions

The proposed law empowers the U.S. government to impose visa bans, asset freezes, and criminal sanctions on:

• Governors of states where religious killings occur

• Judges involved in blasphemy trials

• Police and prison officials enforcing religious laws

• State and non-state actors complicit in violence

The bill specifically targets anyone who “prosecutes, convicts, imprisons, or deprives individuals of liberty on charges of blasphemy.”

These sanctions could apply to high-profile cases involving mob attacks, death sentences, or imprisonments linked to blasphemy allegations across northern Nigeria.

Reactions and Global Implications

During prior hearings before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Nigerian religious leaders and international observers described communities in Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna as living under “nightly siege” by armed groups.

While such violence is often described locally as banditry, U.S. law classifies it as terrorism when civilians are targeted for ideological or religious reasons.

Meanwhile, China—a key ally of Nigeria—has condemned the bill, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stating:

“China firmly opposes using religion or human rights as a pretext to threaten other nations with force.”

This response underscores the geopolitical tension between Washington and Beijing, both vying for influence in Africa.

Possible Impact if Passed

If the legislation becomes law, it could:

• Restrict U.S. military sales and financing to Nigeria

• Limit training and intelligence sharing

• Impose visa bans on top Nigerian officials

• Affect defence and development programs

• Strain diplomatic relations with Washington

Nigeria would only be removed from the CPC list after demonstrating measurable progress, including:

• A reduction in religious killings

• The dismantling of extremist groups

• Reform of blasphemy laws

• Transparent prosecutions of offenders

Next Steps in Congress

For the bill to become law, it must:

1. Pass through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for review and amendments.

2. Secure approval from the full Senate.

3. Be harmonized with a similar bill in the House of Representatives.

4. Be sent to the U.S. President for approval or veto.

Given that Republicans hold a majority in both chambers, the bill is believed to have strong prospects of passage.