US to punish Nigerians accused of killing Christians

A new State Department policy targets Islamist terrorists and other violent actors in the African country

The US has announced plans to impose visa restrictions on Nigerians involved in violations of religious freedom, including those accused of carrying out mass killings of Christians in Africa’s most populous country.

Introduced under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the measure is aimed at combating “egregious anti-Christian violence” in Nigeria and globally, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.

“The United States is 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,” Rubio stated.

The policy also targets the immediate family members of individuals “who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.”

READ MORE: Nigerian president declares emergency as attacks surge

Last month, US President Donald Trump placed the West African nation on the list of ‘Countries of Particular Concern’, citing persistent insecurity and attacks by extremist groups. He also ordered the Pentagon to prepare potential military options to “protect” Christians. The move followed claims by Republican Congressman Riley Moore that more than 7,000 Christians have been killed in the country this year, with hundreds more abducted or displaced by armed groups such as Boko Haram.

Nigeria has grappled for years with an insurgency linked to groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, which seeks to impose a radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems insufficiently devout. More than 15 years of violence in the country’s northeast have left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions. Armed gangs and bandits in central Nigeria also kidnap locals for ransom. Abuja declared a nationwide security emergency last week in response to intensifying attacks and mass abductions.

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The Nigerian authorities have rejected the US allegations of genocide against Christians, arguing that terrorists target people of all faiths. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has warned against rhetoric that could fuel the partitioning of the country along religious or tribal lines. African Union Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has also dismissed the claims, calling them a distortion of a complex conflict.