By: Mandy Park
A new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, estimating that about 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across several parts of the country.
The report, titled Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants and released in May 2026, described the armed groups as some of the deadliest non-state actors fueling violence, killings, kidnappings and displacement, particularly in the Middle Belt and parts of southern Nigeria.
According to the commission, the militants operate in loosely organised cells ranging from small bands of about 10 fighters to larger formations with up to 1,000 members.
USCIRF stated that attacks linked to the armed groups accounted for the highest number of deaths among religious communities in Nigeria within the past year, surpassing fatalities attributed to insurgent groups and criminal gangs.
The report noted that while many of the attacks targeted predominantly Christian communities, Muslims have also suffered killings, abductions and raids carried out by the armed groups.
“The actors do not function under a single command structure,” the commission stated, adding that some factions collaborate with criminal bandit networks and extremist organisations espousing violent ideologies.
It further explained that the violence is driven by multiple overlapping factors, including disputes over land and grazing routes, environmental pressures, criminality and, in some cases, religious tensions.
Deadly Attacks Across States
The report highlighted several deadly incidents recorded between 2025 and 2026.
Among them was a June 2025 attack in Benue State where at least 200 people, including internally displaced persons taking refuge at a Catholic mission, were reportedly killed.
USCIRF also referenced the Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where more than 200 Christians — mostly women and children — were said to have been killed, while over 3,000 residents were displaced.
In Niger State, at least 32 people were reportedly killed in February 2026 during another attack linked to suspected armed herders.
The commission further documented an assault on Holy Trinity Parish in the Kafanchan Diocese of Kaduna State, where three worshippers were killed and 11 persons, including the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, were abducted.
In Plateau State, armed men reportedly kidnapped an imam alongside seven worshippers from a mosque, demanding a ransom of ₦16 million.
Additional attacks during the 2026 Easter celebrations in Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states reportedly left several worshippers dead, while dozens were abducted.
USCIRF noted that some attacks occurred during major Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter, a pattern it said heightened fear and psychological trauma among victims.
The commission estimated that violence linked to the armed groups has displaced about 1.3 million people across Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Many displaced families, it said, are currently living in overcrowded camps with inadequate healthcare, sanitation and security facilities.
The report also criticised the response of security agencies, saying affected communities frequently complained of delayed intervention during attacks.
It added that some Christian organisations accused security operatives of bias and selective enforcement, allegations Nigerian authorities have repeatedly denied.
The report acknowledged recent efforts by both federal and state authorities to tackle the insecurity.
It referenced a June 2025 initiative by governors from 11 states to establish ranching programmes aimed at reducing conflicts between herders and farmers.
USCIRF also cited President Bola Tinubu’s December 2025 classification of kidnappers and armed groups, including violent Fulani militias, as terrorist organisations.
According to the report, joint security operations carried out in January 2026 led to the rescue of 309 kidnapped victims in Kogi and Kwara states, while 129 suspects were arrested and 55 others killed during military operations.
The commission further disclosed that the United States Congress introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act in February 2026, proposing sanctions against individuals and groups accused of involvement in religious freedom violations.
The report also referenced accusations against the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria by some Christian leaders, who alleged that the organisation failed to curb violence associated with armed herders.
However, the association denied the allegations, insisting it neither supports nor sponsors criminality or violent extremism.
US President Donald Trump was also referenced in the report over the October 2025 designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for alleged violations of religious freedom.
Despite ongoing military operations and policy interventions, USCIRF concluded that insecurity in central Nigeria remains widespread and persistent, warning that repeated attacks, displacement and humanitarian challenges continue to threaten stability across affected communities.
