By MMN Reporter 3.12.2025
US President Donald Trump Wednesday announced a visa ban on Nigerians who are funding or supporting terror in the country.
This was made known by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in a post on his X social media platform. According to him the visa policy applies to Nigeria as well as other governments or individuals implicated in the alleged massacre of Nigerian Christians.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the atrocities and violence against Christians in Nigeria and around the world.
“The @StateDept will restrict U.S. visas for those who knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom.
“This visa policy applies to Nigeria and other governments or individuals that persecute people for their religious beliefs.”
The US House of Reps held a session on the alleged killing of Christians in Nigeria Tuesday. This is coming on the heels of President Trump pressuring Nigeria to stops attacks on Christian communities or risk military intervention.
Vicky Hartzler, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, told lawmakers that “religious freedom [is] under siege,” citing the abduction of more than 300 children and attacks in which “radical Muslims kill entire Christian villages [and] burn churches.”
She recommended targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials “who have demonstrated complicity,” visa restrictions, blocking U.S.-based assets, and conditioning foreign and humanitarian aid on measurable accountability.
She also urged Congress to direct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of past U.S. assistance, adding that Abuja should retake villages seized from Christian farming communities, so widows and children could return home.