US President Donald Trump is angry over the killing of Christians in Nigeria. Along with this, he gave a strong warning to Nigeria and said that if the killings and attacks do not stop, America will immediately stop all economic and military aid. Not only this, Trump had also threatened Nigeria with attack. Now America will ban the visas of Nigerians and their families involved in violence against Christians.
The US will ban visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians in the West African country, the US State Department has said. It is known that last month Trump also said that he has ordered the Pentagon to start planning for possible military action following claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
US Secretary of State’s statement
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement released on Wednesday. He said the policy would also apply to other countries or individuals violating religious freedom. These restrictions are part of the new policy under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Also read: US Nigeria Conflict: ‘Will take military action if necessary’; Trump’s tough stance on allegations of atrocities against Christians
Nigeria declared ‘country of special concern’
The move comes after the US last month declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. It was not immediately clear how Wednesday’s policy would be implemented, as the State Department already has the authority to restrict travel to the US from people involved in human rights abuses.
Why are Christians being attacked in Nigeria?
Attacks in Nigeria have different motives. Some attacks are religiously motivated, targeting both Christians and Muslims, as well as clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, separatist groups and ethnic conflicts. Nigeria’s population of about 220 million is divided almost equally between Christians and Muslims.
The West African country has long faced insecurity from various fronts, including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its own radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough. Additionally, there has also been an increase in the activities of armed gangs in the central part of the country who kidnap locals for ransom.
