US to restrict visas of Nigerians responsible for violence against Christians

The United States will restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members responsible for mass killings and violence against Christians, the U.S. State Department said 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,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement posted on social platform X.

The secretary added that the policy would apply to other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.

The restrictions are in line with a new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, he said.

Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups, and ethnic clashes.


Nigeria’s population of about 220 million people is split 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 radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.

Also, there has been an uptick in the activities of armed gangs in the central part of the country who kidnap locals for ransom.

Last month, President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigeria to expand digital reach with 4,000 telecom towers

The Nigerian government has approved the construction of around 4,000 telecom towers nationwide to improve digital access in underserved communities across Africa's most populous country, News.Az reports, citing Xinhua.

The Federal Executive Council, led by President Bola Tinubu, gave the green light as part of efforts to enhance basic digital connectivity and promote economic inclusion, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said on Wednesday.

“About 23 million Nigerians are currently underserved,” Idris noted, referencing a presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy during the cabinet meeting.

Limited digital access has hindered economic participation and basic communication in remote areas, Idris added.

The new initiative is also expected to boost national security and stimulate commercial activity in rural communities.

News.Az

Video - Nigerian parents register missing children after mass school abduction

Following the mass abduction of students in Nigeria’s Niger State, parents have gathered to register their missing children with local authorities. The attack, which occurred a week ago, is part of a broader surge in abductions by armed groups, prompting widespread school closures across northern Nigeria.

CGTN Africa

Video - Nigeria ramps up security recruitment as attacks surge

President Bola Tinubu ordered major recruitment across the military, police and intelligence services, including 20,000 new police officers. The move comes as Nigeria faces a spike in deadly attacks in the north. Some residents welcome the boost to security and jobs, while others fear outdated equipment and possible infiltration by armed groups.

CGTN Africa

Related story: The kidnap gangs, jihadists and separatists wreaking havoc in Nigeria

Pastor and new bride abducted in latest Nigeria attacks

Gunmen have abducted at least 20 people, including a pastor and a new bride, in two separate attacks in the latest Nigerian kidnappings.

Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday in the central Kogi state, firing shots and forcing congregants to flee in panic. They seized the pastor, his wife and several worshippers.

In another raid the night before in the northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother and another woman were also taken, the AFP news agency reports.

Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.

It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments, however a presidential spokesman has told the BBC they believe they are the work of jihadist groups.

Kogi state government spokesman Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the attack in Ejiba to the BBC but was unable to confirm the numbers.

He said authorities were working to track down the attackers.

"The security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture are currently doing what they should do," he told the BBC.

In the attack in the mostly Muslim Sokoto state, local media reported that the bride had been preparing for a wedding ceremony the following morning and she was seized alongside her friends and other guests who had gone to support her.

Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the biggest such attack in recent weeks, while those seized in other raids have reportedly been released.

The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities. It adds to pressure on the authorities to bolster protection for those at risk - schools, churches and isolated communities.

Paying ransoms has been outlawed in a bid to stop the lucrative kidnapping industry, however it is widely believed that such payments are still being made.

Nigeria's security crisis attracted the international spotlight last month after US President Donald Trump threatened to send over troops if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians".

Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and say it is not true that Christians are being targeted.

By Chris Ewokor and Basillioh Rukanga, BBC