Repentant B’Haram fighters may be denied US visa-Ex-envoy
A former American ambassador to Nigeria, James Campbell, says it will be difficult for the United States to issue a visa to a repentant Boko Haram member.
Campbell, however, said individual visa applications would be handled on their respective merit.
He said, “Visa eligibility is determined on a case by case basis. Consular offers are usually concerned with whether the applicant will return to his country of origin before his visa expires, and whether the applicant is a security risk. As a practical matter, a ‘repentant’ terrorist would have to meet a higher bar. Lying on a visa application makes an applicant ineligible”.
“The Unites States has supported Nigeria’s efforts towards effective disarmament, demobilization and disintegration of former affiliates as an important element of the broader joint Nigerian and US strategy to counter violent extremism”, the US had said.
A large section of Nigerians have condemned the plan of the Federal Government to reintegrate repentant terrorists into the society while while millions of victims of terrorism remain displaced.
