The United States Department of State has announced a new set of measures aimed at addressing the growing violence against Christians in Nigeria and several other countries.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the department outlined policies targeting radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani militias, and other groups believed to be responsible for attacks on Christian communities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. 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.”
Under the new policy—based on Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act—the United States may impose visa restrictions on individuals who have “directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.” When necessary, these restrictions can also apply to their immediate family members.
Rubio emphasized that, as President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated, the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and other countries.”
He added that the visa restrictions could apply to Nigeria as well as other governments or individuals implicated in religious persecution.
The announcement comes a day after U.S. House Republicans held a briefing on escalating religious violence in Nigeria. The session was convened at Trump’s direction following his call for an investigation into what he described as the ongoing slaughter of Christians in the country.
The briefing—led by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart—included members of the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees, along with religious freedom advocates and experts. Among the participants were Representatives Robert Aderholt, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Chris Smith, USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler, ADF International’s Sean Nelson, and Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations.
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In response to international pressure and rising domestic concerns about terrorism, banditry, and targeted attacks on Christians, President Bola Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s delegation to the new US–Nigeria Joint Working Group. The team will work on implementing security agreements reached during recent high-level discussions in Washington with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
On November 20, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing to review Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a classification that places Nigeria under increased monitoring for alleged religious-freedom violations. Lawmakers also discussed the implications of this designation, including the possibility of sanctions against Nigerian officials found complicit in acts of religious persecution.
