The United States of America has announced its plan to restrict visas of Nigerians accused of undermining religious freedom in Nigeria. 

The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the development known in a post on X on Wednesday, announcing new visa restrictions targeting Nigerians accused of undermining religious freedom. 

Several U.S. lawmakers had also condemned the alleged persecution of Christians in the country, while also demanding the abolition of Sharia law in parts of Nigeria.

Sharia law is practised in 12 states in Nigeria’s northern region, comprising Sokoto, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Yobe, and Zamfara.

The Islamic law is fully implemented in the six states in the North West and four of the six states in the North East, excluding Adamawa and Taraba states.

Mr Rubio, who noted that the U.S. is taking decisive action in response to the atrocities and violence against Christians in Nigeria and around the world, said the restrictions will affect those who “knowingly direct, authorise, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom”.

“The @StateDept will restrict U.S. visas for those who knowingly direct, authorise, 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,” Rubio posted on X.

Over the years, authorities in northern Nigeria have employed Sharia law in harassing, maiming, and incarcerating citizens, including Christians and non-Muslims who do not adhere to the dictates of Islam.

One poignant example was the case of Mubarak Bala, an atheist and president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria. Mr Bala faced persecution and arrest for leaving Islam and publicly expressing his atheistic views.

On April 5, 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Mr Bala to 24 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to an eighteen-count charge of blasphemy and public incitement, due to threats of being burnt to death in police custody by Muslim extremists. He was, however, released from prison in 2024 and has since relocated to Germany.

In a Wednesday statement titled ‘Combating Egregious Anti-Christian Violence in Nigeria and Globally,’ the U.S. Department of State said the United States was taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond.

The visa ban would be imposed on individuals who have directed, authorised or supported violations of religious freedom. The restriction may also affect their immediate family members.

The statement said, “A new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act will allow the State Department to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom and, where appropriate, their immediate family members.

“As President Trump made clear, the ‘United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries.’ This policy will apply to Nigeria and any other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.”