The United States Department of State on Wednesday announced the implementation of a sweeping new policy to impose visa restrictions on individuals responsible for violence and mass killings against Christians in Nigeria and other countries.
The move marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic response to persistent security challenges and targeted attacks against faith communities in Africa’s most populous nation.
Targeting Perpetrators and Militias
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement obtained by Hobnob News, confirmed that the policy targets specific groups deemed responsible for the unrest.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and attacks on Christians carried out by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani militias, and other violent groups in Nigeria and beyond,” the Secretary stated.
The new policy utilizes existing authority under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section allows the State Department to restrict visas for individuals who have “directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom,” with the critical addition that restrictions may, where appropriate, extend to their immediate family members.
Secretary Rubio emphasized the global scope but highlighted Nigeria specifically, noting that the visa restrictions could be applied to “Nigeria and any other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.”
Follows Presidential Directive
The announcement follows intense scrutiny from Washington, led by President Donald Trump, who on October 31 instructed the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he termed the “slaughter of Christians” in the country.
This directive was followed by a joint briefing on Tuesday led by House Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, which included members of the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees, as well as religious freedom experts.
Furthermore, the United States House Subcommittee on Africa opened a public hearing on November 20 to review President Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a designation that places the country under heightened scrutiny for alleged religious-freedom violations and potentially paves the way for economic sanctions against complicit Nigerian officials.
Nigerian Diplomatic Efforts
The US action comes despite recent diplomatic overtures by the Nigerian government. President Bola Tinubu recently approved Nigeria’s delegation to the new US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, formed specifically to implement security agreements stemming from high-level talks in Washington led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The imposition of visa bans underscores Washington’s deepening concern over terrorism, banditry, and continuous targeted attacks on Christians, demanding greater accountability and protection for vulnerable faith communities.
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