A new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has estimated that about 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across Nigeria, contributing to persistent insecurity in parts of the country.
The report, released in May 2026 and titled Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” said the armed groups are spread across dispersed clusters ranging from small units of about 10 fighters to larger formations of up to 1,000 members.
According to the commission, the groups have emerged as major non-state actors linked to repeated violent attacks that have intensified insecurity, displacement and communal tensions, particularly in the Middle Belt and some southern regions.
The report stated that both Christian and Muslim communities have been affected by the violence, although many of the attacks were reportedly concentrated in rural farming communities across central Nigeria.
USCIRF explained that the armed groups do not operate under a unified command structure, but some allegedly collaborate with criminal gangs and other armed networks, further complicating the security situation.
It described the attackers’ methods as involving night-time raids on vulnerable communities using motorcycles, firearms and machetes.
“They often descend on vulnerable communities at night, creating fear and forcing residents to flee in order to gain control of land,” the report stated.
The commission estimated that at least 1.3 million people have been displaced in the Middle Belt due to attacks involving armed groups and other violent actors.
The report referenced several incidents, including a 2025 attack in Benue State where more than 200 people were reportedly killed at a Catholic mission sheltering internally displaced persons.
Another incident highlighted was the Yelwata attack in Benue, where over 200 people were allegedly killed and thousands displaced.
USCIRF also said some attacks appeared to coincide with major religious celebrations such as Christmas and Easter, increasing fear among affected communities.
In another case cited, suspected attackers reportedly killed 32 people in Niger State in early 2026, while a separate attack in Kaduna State targeted a church, leaving worshippers dead and others abducted, including a priest.
The report further documented kidnappings involving churches and mosques, including an incident in Plateau State where an imam and worshippers were abducted and ransom demanded.
According to the commission, there are differing interpretations of the violence, with some observers linking it to environmental pressures, land disputes and herding-related conflicts, while others describe aspects of the attacks as religious persecution.
USCIRF noted that multiple and overlapping factors, including criminality and resource competition, are likely driving the crisis.
The commission also raised concerns about delayed security responses during attacks, although it acknowledged recent government efforts, including intensified military operations and the designation of violent armed groups as terrorist organisations in late 2025.
The report added that security agencies have conducted rescue operations leading to the release of hostages, while some suspects were arrested or neutralised.
Despite these measures, USCIRF warned that insecurity in central Nigeria remains severe, with many rural communities still vulnerable to repeated attacks.
The commission concluded that lasting progress would depend on stronger security coordination, improved governance and sustained efforts to address the root causes of violence and displacement.
