The United States has announced a new policy targeting individuals involved in violations of religious freedom, including those linked to violence in Nigeria.

Mark Walker, the US Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom, made this known in a post on X on Friday.

The statement reads “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.

“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, authorized, 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” it said.