America is pushing a new law that could punish top Nigerian figures for failing to stop attacks on religious groups. The plan, called the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, marks Nigeria as a nation with serious problems in protecting people’s right to follow their faith. It points to claims of widespread harm against Christians, harsh religious rules in some areas, and mob attacks over insults to faith.
The push comes after the US leader named Nigeria a high-risk country for these issues and ordered quick steps to respond. He shared his anger online about the deaths of many Christians and called for a fast probe by lawmakers. If passed, the law would force a full list of Nigerian bosses—like state heads, court judges, and local kings—who back or ignore laws that punish religious insults or let groups carry out faith-based violence. Those named could face tough US penalties, such as travel blocks, frozen bank funds, and limits on money dealings.
The spotlight falls on bosses of 12 northern states that brought in strict faith-based criminal codes from 1999 onwards. These include places like Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, and others where such rules now cover crimes, not just family matters. The law also flags terror groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot as major threats. The US leader warned he might cut all aid to Nigeria and even ready troops to fight “faith extremists” if nothing changes.
This builds on a 2020 US alert about Nigeria’s religious troubles, blamed on terror raids, clashes between groups, and weak courts. Lawmakers say over 50,000 Christians have died since 2009, with thousands of places of worship wrecked and whole villages lost. They claim Nigeria’s rulers either do nothing or join in.
Nigeria’s leaders push back hard. They say the country’s main law bans any official faith, lets people choose their beliefs freely, and stops unfair treatment. Strict rules apply only to willing Muslims in the north for crimes, and are optional elsewhere for things like weddings or wills. There are no nationwide bans on religious insults, and public peace laws treat all groups the same. Officials insist Christians build churches, teach in schools, lead in power, and join government without fear. They point to arrests and trials of terror suspects, saying most violence stems from crime, land fights, or dry weather woes—not just faith clashes. The plan, they add, twists facts about their laws.
Yet worries linger over how these rules curb non-Muslims from praying openly, building holy sites, or marking festivals. Converts from the main faith face beatings, and loose laws on insults spark crowd killings. Clear cases include a girl’s stoning and burning in 2022 for a claimed slight, a man’s lynching in the same area, a trader’s torching in 2021, and an older woman’s death in 2016 over a row.
Nigeria’s head of state aims to visit the US soon to chat with leaders about joint fights against terror, weapon deals, and clearing up that raids hit people of all beliefs. His team stresses shared goals in curbing rebels and vows firm action against dangers like Boko Haram.
Views differ widely. Some old envoys fear lost US help, safer ties, and cash flows, tying it to souring links. Others see it as a nudge to guard lives better, risking alone time or money shifts elsewhere. One suggests talks through other nations; another calls it old grudges and pushes home fixes over rows. A past state boss wants US tech aid for all threats, not split ones, and urges quiet chats. Youth groups slam war talk as outrageous. Christian leaders blame timid rulers but welcome the alert to end killings. Muslim rights voices say it aims at rebels, not believers, and call for cool heads. A former US town head faults a top Nigerian faith figure for not halting raids; his group brushes it off, stressing peace work. An opposition voice warns of huge hits to Nigeria’s good name and rich folks from these curbs.
The law’s fate hangs in the balance, with risks of penalties, rocky US ties, and last-ditch talks to ease the blow.
