US ANNOUNCES VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR PERSONS LINKED WITH ATTACKERS OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA

The United States government has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals responsible for attacks on Christians in Nigeria. In a statement released on Wednesday, the US State Department said the measure authorizes the denial of visas to anyone who has directed, authorized, supported, participated in, or carried out religiously motivated abuses.

The policy is being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.

According to the statement, immediate family members of sanctioned individuals may also be affected. “As President Trump has made clear, the United States will not remain silent while such atrocities occur in Nigeria and other affected countries,” the State Department noted. Officials added that the policy applies not only to Nigeria but to any government or individual involved in violations of religious freedom.

This development comes as the US and Nigerian governments discuss ongoing violent attacks by extremist groups across the country. Tensions had earlier risen after US officials accused the Nigerian government of failing to curb anti-Christian violence—an allegation Nigeria firmly rejected. Amid these concerns, President Donald Trump previously designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and even hinted at the possibility of deploying US troops in response to persistent insecurity.