US Report Links 30,000 Armed Fulani Militants To Nigeria’s Growing Insecurity
The report, titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants” and released in May 2026, identified the armed groups as among the most dangerous non-state actors accused of violating religious freedom in the country.
According to the commission, the militants reportedly operate in clusters ranging from 10 to 1,000 members and have intensified attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and parts of the South, leading to killings, displacement of communities, and growing religious tensions.
The report stated that attacks attributed to the militants accounted for the highest number of deaths involving religious communities in Nigeria within the past year, exceeding casualties linked to insurgents and criminal gangs.
While many of the affected communities were said to be predominantly Christian, the commission noted that Muslim communities have also suffered attacks, kidnappings, and killings.
USCIRF explained that although the armed groups do not appear to have a unified command structure, some factions reportedly collaborate with bandits and extremist groups operating in different parts of the country.
The commission alleged that attackers often strike isolated rural communities at night, using motorcycles, machetes, and automatic weapons to create fear and force residents to flee their ancestral lands.
According to the report, attacks involving Fulani militants and other armed groups have displaced at least 1.3 million people across the Middle Belt, with many victims currently living in overcrowded camps facing poor security and inadequate sanitary conditions.
The report referenced a number of deadly incidents recorded in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Niger between 2025 and early 2026, including attacks on churches and religious gatherings.
Among the incidents cited was the reported killing of more than 200 people, including displaced persons taking refuge in a Catholic mission in Benue State in June 2025.
The commission also noted that some attacks were allegedly carried out during Christian celebrations such as Easter and Christmas, suggesting that certain operations may have been timed to increase psychological impact on affected communities.
USCIRF criticised the response of both federal and state authorities, alleging that security agencies were frequently slow in responding to distress calls from attacked communities.
The report added that conflicting narratives surrounding the violence have continued to fuel debates over whether the crisis is primarily driven by religion, land disputes, environmental pressures, or economic interests.
Despite ongoing military operations and peace-building efforts, the commission warned that insecurity remains widespread across parts of central Nigeria.
The report concluded that the violence may continue unless governments at all levels create conditions that guarantee safety, justice, and the protection of religious freedom for all citizens.
