US to impose visa restrictions on Nigerians involved in alleged persecution of Christians

The United States says it will impose visa restrictions on individuals implicated in violations of religious freedom in Nigeria and elsewhere.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is taking “decisive action in response to the atrocities and violence against Christians in Nigeria and around the world.”

He stated that the State Department “will restrict U.S. visas for those who knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom,” emphasising that the policy covers Nigeria and “other governments or individuals that persecute people for their religious beliefs.”

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions triggered by recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly warned that Christians in Nigeria are being killed in what he described as “very large numbers.”

During a conversation with reporters on Air Force One last month, Mr Trump said the United States “could be” considering military action.

“Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria,” he said. “They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”

Mr Trump had earlier written on Truth Social that radical Islamists were committing “mass slaughter” and that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria.

Nigerian authorities have pushed back against the characterisation of the country as intolerant. Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, told Reuters that Nigeria would accept support in its fight against Islamist insurgents, but stressed that the United States must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity,” he said.

President Tinubu also defended his government’s record on religious freedom, arguing that perceptions of intolerance do not reflect the country’s reality.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” he said, adding that the government continues efforts to protect religious liberty for all citizens.