Rubio says US will limit visas for Nigerians involved in violence against Christians

ABUJA, Nigeria The United States plans to impose visa limitations on Nigerians and their relatives implicated in mass violence and killings targeting Christians, the U.S. State Department announced Wednesday.

The U.S. is responding firmly to the widespread killings and assaults on Christians carried out by extremist Islamic groups, Fulani militias, and other violent actors within Nigeria and beyond, stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio on social platform X. He emphasized that the policy will also apply to foreign governments or individuals violating religious freedom.

The visa restrictions follow a new guideline under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Violence in Nigeria stems from multiple causes, including religious attacks on both Christians and Muslims, disputes between farmers and herders over scarce resources, ethnic tensions, communal rivalries, and secessionist movements.

Nigeria, with a population of around 220 million, has an almost even split between Christians and Muslims. The nation has faced persistent security challenges, including the extremist group Boko Haram, which enforces a radical interpretation of Islamic law and has targeted Muslims considered insufficiently devout. Additionally, armed gangs in central Nigeria have increasingly carried out kidnappings for ransom.

Last month, President Donald Trump announced that he instructed the Pentagon to prepare potential military measures in response to reports of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Author: Zoe Harrison