US Imposes Visa Ban On Nigerians Over Alleged Religious Freedom Violations

The United States Government has begun enforcing visa restrictions on Nigerians alleged to be involved in violations of religious freedom, a senior American official has said.

The U.S. Principal Adviser for Global Religious Freedom, Mark Walker, made this known on Friday via a post on X, citing a policy recently announced by the United States Department of State.

Walker explained that the measure, introduced under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, empowers U.S. authorities to deny visas to individuals linked to acts undermining religious freedom.

He stated that the policy targets persons accused of directing, funding, supporting, or carrying out such violations, adding that implementation has already commenced.

“In December, Secretary Rubio announced that the State Department would restrict U.S. visas for individuals involved in religious freedom abuses. That policy has now been enforced and will continue to be applied with further scrutiny on offenders,” he said.

The official, however, did not disclose the identities of affected Nigerians or indicate whether their family members were also impacted.

The development comes amid renewed international attention on alleged religious persecution in Nigeria, including claims of targeted violence against Christian communities.

Earlier, the U.S. had redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern following advocacy campaigns highlighting what was described as a pattern of religious-based attacks.

In a related move, American forces reportedly carried out an operation against suspected terrorists in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, on the directive of President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, the State Department had, in a previous statement, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to addressing violent attacks attributed to terrorists, bandits, and armed groups operating in parts of Nigeria.

The statement noted that the visa restriction policy would also extend, where necessary, to immediate family members of individuals found culpable in religious freedom violations.