The US report raised concerns about the 30,000 armed Fulani militants operating across Nigeria

A new report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reveals that approximately 30,000 armed Fulani militants are currently operating across Nigeria, increasing insecurity and contributing significantly to religious violence in several regions of the country.

The report, released in May 2026 and entitled “Non-State Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” described the armed group as one of the deadliest non-state actors fueling attacks, displacement and religious tensions, particularly in the Middle Belt region and parts of Southern Nigeria.

According to the commission, the militants operated in cells ranging from small groups of about 10 fighters to larger formations numbering up to 1,000 members.

“Violence perpetrated by Fulani militants caused the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the past year compared to attacks carried out by organized rebel groups and criminal gangs,” the report said.

The commission noted that although many attacks primarily targeted Christian communities, the Muslim population also experienced raids, killings and kidnappings linked to armed groups.

USCIRF explained that militant factions do not operate under a unified command structure, but in some cases collaborate with criminal gangs and extremist organizations to pursue ideological and economic goals.

“These actors operate in a variety of contexts and with a variety of goals and motivations.

“While many Fulani militant groups carry out independent attacks, other groups regularly coordinate with a variety of other actors, ranging from conventional bandit gangs seeking financial enrichment to well-known terrorist organizations espousing violent interpretations of Islam.”

The report states that militants frequently launch attacks on remote rural settlements using motorbikes, assault rifles and machetes, often carrying out operations at night to maximize fear and displacement.

“They often use machetes and descend on vulnerable communities at night, causing terror as a way to force victims to leave quickly and gain greater control over the land they want,” the report said.

According to the commission, violence linked to Fulani militants and similar armed groups has displaced no less than 1.3 million people in the Middle Belt, forcing many victims to seek refuge in overcrowded camps that lack adequate security and sanitation.

The report highlights several major attacks recorded in 2025 and early 2026, including deadly attacks in Benue and Plateau states.

“An attack in Benue in June 2025 killed at least 200 people, including internally displaced people living in a Catholic mission,” the report said.

USCIRF also referred to the killings in Yelwata, Benue State, where more than 200 Christians were reportedly massacred in 2025.

The report described the victims as “mostly sleeping women and children,” and noted that more than 3,000 residents were displaced during the attack.

The commission further alleged that some of the attacks were deliberately carried out to coincide with major Christian religious celebrations.

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“Militant actors often carry out operations on Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter to further maximize the psychological impact,” the report said.

It added that suspected Fulani militants allegedly killed at least 32 people in Niger State in February 2026 and also attacked the Holy Trinity Parish in Kafanchan Diocese in Kaduna State, killing three people and kidnapping 11 others, including the parish priest Father Nathaniel Asuwaye.

The report also documents attacks on Muslim worshipers and religious leaders.

“In February 2026, gunmen kidnapped an imam and seven worshipers from a mosque in Plateau,” USCIRF said, adding that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N16m.

According to the commission, further violence recorded during Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations in April 2026 left dozens of people dead in Plateau, Kaduna and Benue states.

“On Easter Sunday, Fulani militants reportedly killed five worshipers at two churches in Kaduna State while kidnapping 31 others,” the report said.

USCIRF recognizes that debate over the root causes of violence continues to complicate national and international responses to this crisis.

“Some observers argue that environmental and economic factors are the driving forces behind acts of violence by Fulani militants, while others argue that these actors are engaged in a campaign of outright genocide against non-Muslims, especially Christians.

“In fact, many overlapping factors, including religion in many cases, likely drive Fulani militants to attack communities or individuals.”

The report criticized federal and state authorities for what it described as a slow and inadequate response to attacks on vulnerable communities.

“Victims have long reported that security forces have consistently been slow to respond to attacks on their communities,” the commission said.

USCIRF also noted allegations by several Christian groups accusing security agencies of bias in favor of the Muslim community during investigations and security operations.

The commission revealed that governors of 11 states launched an initiative in June 2025 to establish livestock systems for herders as part of efforts to reduce violent clashes over grazing routes and agricultural land.

At the federal level, the report links the government’s renewed actions to former US President Donald Trump’s decision in October 2025 to designate Nigeria as a Country of Very Concern for violations of religious freedom.

According to the report, President Bola Tinubu then classified kidnappers and violent armed groups, including Fulani militants, as terrorists in December 2025.

USCIRF further revealed that security agencies rescued 309 kidnap victims during operations carried out in Kogi and Kwara states in January 2026, while 129 suspected Fulani militants were arrested and 55 others were killed.

The report also referred to increased scrutiny of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, which is facing accusations from some Christian leaders over alleged failures to curb militant violence and land invasions.

Responding to these allegations, the association denied supporting any form of criminality.

“We do not support, condone, harbor, fund or protect any form of criminality, extremism or violence,” the association said, according to the report.

USCIRF also revealed that the United States Congress introduced the Nigerian Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 in February, proposing sanctions against MACBAN for allegations related to gross violations of religious freedom.

Despite ongoing military operations and peace initiatives, the commission warned that insecurity remains deeply rooted in central Nigeria.

“As a result, central Nigeria remains in an intense, daily, and seemingly persistent crisis of insecurity,” the report concludes.

The commission added that violence will likely continue “until the federal government and some states create fundamental conditions more conducive to the safe practice of religious freedom.”