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US Announces Visa Bans for Alleged Financiers of Violence Against Christians in Nigeria

The Trump administration has imposed new visa restrictions targeting Nigerians accused of funding or supporting violence against Christians, escalating U.S. diplomatic pressure over religious freedom concerns amid strong denials from the Nigerian government.

The United States has announced visa restrictions against individuals implicated in financing or supporting violence targeting Christians in Nigeria, framing the move as a response to ongoing atrocities.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed the policy on Wednesday via social media platform X. In his statement, he said the U.S. would restrict visas for those who “knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom,” explicitly naming Nigeria among the affected nations.

"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 announcement follows longstanding concerns from U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups about intercommunal and sectarian violence in parts of Nigeria. However, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of a targeted genocide against Christians, maintaining that the nation's security challenges impact citizens of all faiths.

No specific individuals have been publicly named under the new visa policy, which appears aimed at financiers and organizers rather than perpetrators on the ground. The move signals a hardening of the U.S. stance under the Trump administration on the issue of religious freedom in Nigeria, potentially complicating bilateral relations.

The policy is expected to apply not only to Nigerians but also to officials or individuals from other countries found complicit in religious persecution. The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official reaction to Secretary Rubio's specific announcement.
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