SUNTV Global Channel | International Desk | May 27, 2026
A new report released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has alleged that nearly 30,000 armed Fulani militant groups are responsible for widespread killings, kidnappings, church attacks, and violent assaults on rural communities across Nigeria.
In the May 2026 report titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” the said the armed groups have carried out some of the deadliest attacks on religious communities in recent years.
According to the report, both Christians and Muslims have been victims of attacks allegedly linked to the militants, including raids on villages, abductions, destruction of farmlands, and assaults on places of worship.
The commission stated that the groups operate mainly across Nigeria’s North-West, Middle Belt, and parts of Southern Nigeria, often attacking isolated communities with motorcycles, automatic weapons, and machetes.
USCIRF claimed that violence linked to the groups accounted for one of the highest levels of deaths affecting religious communities in the country over the past year.
The report further alleged that homes, churches, and community facilities were destroyed during several attacks, while thousands of residents were displaced from their ancestral communities.
Among incidents referenced were deadly attacks in Benue State in 2025, which reportedly claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of residents. The report also cited kidnappings involving religious leaders and attacks on churches and schools in states including Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Zamfara, and Kogi.
According to USCIRF, insecurity linked to armed groups has continued to worsen despite ongoing military operations and security interventions by the Nigerian government.
The report also criticised the response of Nigerian authorities, describing official efforts as inadequate and alleging that victims frequently complained about delayed security responses during attacks.
USCIRF noted that while some analysts attribute the violence to economic hardship, land disputes, and environmental pressures, others believe the attacks reflect deeper religious and ethnic tensions affecting several regions of the country.
The report further highlighted controversies surrounding (MACBAN), noting that some groups have accused the organisation of failing to do enough to discourage violent activities allegedly linked to criminal herders. MACBAN has repeatedly denied supporting violence.
USCIRF also stated that the Nigerian government intensified security operations after increased international concern over religious freedom violations and insecurity.
According to the report, Nigerian authorities officially designated violent kidnappers and armed Fulani militant groups as terrorist organisations in late 2025, while several suspects were reportedly arrested during operations in Kogi and Kwara states earlier this year.
Despite ongoing security operations, the commission warned that attacks on churches, mosques, schools, farmlands, and rural communities could continue unless deeper issues driving insecurity are properly addressed.
The report comes amid growing concerns over worsening insecurity, mass kidnappings, and violent attacks affecting several communities across Nigeria.
