The Trump administration is rolling out a new visa-restriction policy in response to a wave of brutal anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria, targeting those accused of orchestrating religious violence against Christians in the West African nation and around the world.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that a new policy in the Immigration and Nationality Act will allow the State Department to deny visas to those “who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.” Immediate family members may also face visa restrictions in some cases.

“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 said in the statement.

The move follows a surge of attacks on Christians and Christian institutions in Nigeria. Last month, gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were freed nearly a week later.

Days later, armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 students aged 10 to 18 escaped in the following days, but 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive.

The violence prompted President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” though the Nigerian government disputes the U.S. assessment.

“I’m really angry about it,” the president told Fox News Radio last month. “What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.”

Rubio said the new visa restrictions will apply to Nigeria and to any other governments or individuals involved in violating religious freedom.

Echoing Trump’s warning, Rubio said: “As President Trump made clear, the ‘United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries.’”

The Sokoto State Police Command, under the leadership of Cp Ahmed Musa,psc through its dedicated Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against organized crime with the arrest of three notorious members of a cult group known as “Sai Malam.”

The group has been a growing source of fear and concern for communities across the state.

The arrests were carried out on Friday, November 28, 2025, at about 2300 hours, following a meticulously executed operation driven by credible intelligence.

The primary suspect, Usman Shu’aibu ‘M’, along with two other accomplices, were apprehended and has since provided detailed confessions regarding the group’s activities.

During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they were initiated into the unlawful “Sai Malam” society through a private WhatsApp group named “Red Chamber.”

Investigations confirm that this digital platform was created with the explicit purpose of luring and initiating innocent youths into a wide range of criminal and morally reprehensible activities, including:

* Witchcraft and Ritualist Practices

* The pursuit of Demonic Powers

* Acts of Homosexuality

* Organized Thuggery and ViolenceIn light of these disturbing revelations, the Sokoto State Police Command issues a strong advisory warning to all parents and guardians.

The “Red Chamber” WhatsApp group highlights a dangerous trend where criminal elements are exploiting digital platforms and social media to target and corrupt the youth.

Parents are urged to:

* Actively monitor their children’s activities on smartphones and social media applications.

* Engage in open conversations about the dangers of online groups and the importance of rejecting unsolicited invitations from strangers.

* Be vigilant regarding sudden changes in their wards’ behavior, social circles, and secrecy around their phones.

* Report any suspicious online activities or peer group influences to the authorities immediately.

The arrest of these individuals is a direct response to the growing concerns and pleas from residents regarding the destabilizing activities of the “Sai Malam” group.

The Command wishes to reassure the public that their voices have been heard.”

We want to assure the good people of Sokoto that we have been listening to their concerns. The arrest of these suspects is a clear demonstration that their calls for action have been answered.

Our efforts have disrupted a key cell of this notorious group, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of every citizen,” Cp Musa stated.

The Police Command confirms that investigative efforts are being intensified to track down and arrest the remaining members of the “Sai Malam” gang. The public is encouraged to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and useful information.

The Command is dedicated to protecting the lives and property of all citizens within the state.

Through proactive intelligence-led policing, community cooperation, and relentless pursuit of criminal elements, we strives to maintain peace, law, and order.

All 24 remaining schoolgirls abdcted from a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria have been successfully rescued, authorities announced Tuesday evening.

The operation, described as a “relentless intelligence-driven assault” on the kidnappers’ forest hideout, marks a rare victory against the escalating wave of banditry plaguing the region and comes just eight days after the harrowing raid that shocked the world.

The dramatic liberation unfolded in the dense forests bordering Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto states, where local hunters, elite military units, and police tactical teams converged in a coordinated dawn raid.

According to a joint statement from the Nigerian Army and Kebbi State Police Command, the girls—ranging in age from 12 to 17—were found “unharmed but traumatized” in a makeshift camp deep within the wilderness.

No ransom was paid, officials emphasized, crediting the success to advanced surveillance, community tips, and the tireless efforts of ground forces.

“This is a testament to our unyielding commitment to the safety of every Nigerian child,” declared President Bola Tinubu in a televised address from Abuja, flanked by top security chiefs.

“The monsters who dared to steal our daughters from their beds will face the full wrath of justice. We will not rest until every shadow of fear is banished from our schools and communities.

” Tinubu’s words echoed the sentiments of Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris, who earlier in the week had vowed “no stone unturned” during a somber visit to the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town.

A Nightmare Recalled:

The Raid That Gripped a NationThe ordeal began in the pre-dawn hours of November 17, when a gang of at least 20 armed assailants on motorcycles stormed the school’s dormitory in Maga, a quiet border community in Kebbi South Senatorial District. Scaling the perimeter fence under cover of darkness, the gunmen—armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons—exchanged fierce gunfire with on-duty security guards before bundling 25 terrified girls into the night.

In the chaos, the school’s vice principal, Malam Ibrahim Hassan, was fatally shot while heroically shielding his students, leaving behind a wife and three young children. Another staff member was critically injured.

Eyewitness accounts from surviving students painted a scene of unimaginable terror. “They came like ghosts, shouting and firing into the air,” recounted 15-year-old Fatima Yusuf, one of two girls who evaded capture during the initial assault.

“We hid under our beds, but they dragged my friends away screaming. I ran when they turned their backs.” Another student, Aisha Mohammed, escaped captivity hours later on November 18, trekking miles through thorny underbrush to reach safety.

Her reunion with her family became a symbol of hope amid the despair, as shared in viral videos that trended across social media.Local leaders, including Senator Garba Maidoki, quickly pointed fingers at “economic terrorists”—bandit groups notorious for cattle rustling, village raids, and ransom kidnappings in the resource-rich but under-policed northwest.

Unlike the ideological fervor of groups like Boko Haram, these criminals operate as opportunistic syndicates, exploiting porous borders and vast ungoverned spaces to fund their operations.

“They have no flag, no cause—just greed,” Maidoki told reporters. Intelligence sources suggested the gang may have originated from nearby Zamfara, a longstanding hotspot for such atrocities.

The Rescue:

A Symphony of Strategy and SacrificeThe breakthrough came late Monday, November 24, following a high-level security summit in Abuja. President Tinubu, briefed by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, ordered an immediate escalation.

Among the reinforcements was Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, who relocated to Birnin Kebbi on November 21 to oversee operations on the ground.

Drawing from his experience quelling similar crises—including the 2021 Jangebe school abduction of 279 girls—Matawalle coordinated with local vigilantes and drone surveillance teams.

“Hours of tracking led us to their lair,” explained Army spokesperson Col. Ahmed Mohammed in a press briefing. “Our forces, supported by community hunters who know these forests like the back of their hands, struck at first light.

The bandits scattered, but not before we secured all 24 girls and neutralized three suspects.” Two soldiers sustained minor injuries, but no further casualties were reported among the rescuers or captives.

The girls, now receiving medical and psychological care at a secure facility in Birnin Kebbi, were reported to be in stable condition, with initial assessments revealing dehydration and minor bruises but no serious harm.

Reunions unfolded in tearful scenes broadcast live: Mothers clutching daughters they feared lost forever, fathers whispering prayers of thanks. “My baby is back—Allah is great,” sobbed Hajiya Zainab Bello, mother of 14-year-old rescuer Sara.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited grieving families last week, returned Tuesday to lead a state reception, where the girls were honored with national flags and promises of scholarships to continue their education uninterrupted.