A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Jaffar Bello, has alleged that proposed sanctions by United States lawmakers are part of a broader agenda to tarnish the image of Muslims.
Bello made the claim on Friday, the 13th of February, 2026, during an interview on Trust TV, where he responded to questions concerning a recently introduced U.S. legislative proposal targeting human rights concerns in Nigeria.
According to reports, American lawmakers have put forward a bill titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026. The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen accountability for alleged human rights violations in Nigeria and includes provisions for possible sanctions against Fulani militias as well as former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Addressing the development, Bello argued that insecurity should not be linked to religion but rather to individuals responsible for criminal acts. He maintained that the move by U.S. lawmakers is an attempt to misrepresent Muslims.
“There is an orchestrated plan to malign us.
“Let me give you an example. In Bauchi State we used to have a year in year out crisis in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.
“One singular act by the then State Governor Isa Yuguda of removing the local government secretariat from a Christian dominated area to a Muslim dominated area. Up till today there hasn’t been a single life lost in that area.
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“And why is it that most of the major religious faith based crises we have in Northern Nigeria is only in Christian dominated areas?
“Why don’t we have it in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto and Kebbi State? Are there no Christians in these areas?
“They are just trying to malign us as a people practicing a faith. If you don’t like the faith we practising, we are not practising it because of you. It’s a choice. We don’t condemn your own choice of faith, don’t bother about our own.”