BREAKING: US imposes visa bans on those persecuting Christians in Nigeria

The United States has announced plans to impose visa restrictions on individuals involved in directing, authorizing, funding, or sponsoring the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The policy was revealed on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a post on X.

“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the atrocities and violence against Christians in Nigeria and around the world,” Rubio wrote.

“The @StateDept will restrict U.S. visas for those who knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom. This policy applies to Nigeria and to any government or individual involved in persecuting people on the basis of their faith.”

The announcement comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, citing what he described as “genocide against Christians.”

On October 30, Trump disclosed the decision on his Truth Social page ahead of a national address reiterating his concerns.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” he wrote. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — but that is the least of it.”

Trump added that he had instructed Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), and members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the situation and report back to him.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and in many other countries,” he said. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”

Following Trump’s declaration, several U.S. lawmakers publicly backed his stance.

One of them, Rep. Riley Moore, condemned the recent abduction of children and teachers from St. Mary Catholic School in Niger State.

“I stand with the U.S. State Department in condemning the horrific abduction of children and teachers from a Catholic school in Nigeria,” Moore said.

He stressed the need for urgent international attention to the plight of Christians. “We cannot turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria who face persecution daily. No one should be targeted for their faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Earlier, U.S. lawmakers had warned that Washington must step up pressure on the Nigerian government, accusing officials of failing to act as insecurity and targeted killings worsen across the country.

Speaking at a joint congressional briefing of the House Appropriations Committee on alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, lawmakers argued that stronger American intervention was now required, especially after Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and his warning of possible military action.

Congressman Chris Smith criticized Nigerian authorities for failing in their most basic responsibility.

“The Nigerian government has a fundamental, constitutional obligation to protect its citizens; however, the perpetrators of this persecution operate with complete impunity,” he said.

Smith, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, warned that Washington would hold Nigerian leaders accountable, accusing the government of deliberately slow-walking efforts to address the violence.