A new report released in May 2026 by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has raised fresh alarm over violent attacks in Nigeria linked to armed groups identified as Fulani militants.
The report, titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” documents in detail the worsening security situation in parts of northern and central Nigeria, where rural communities continue to suffer repeated raids, kidnappings, and killings. It disclosed that armed groups made up of Fulani actors have carried out some of the most deadly attacks in recent years.
Many of the victims, according to the report, are farmers in the Middle Belt, with both Christian and Muslim communities affected.
The commission estimated that tens of thousands of armed fighters operate in loose networks across the country. It pointed out that these groups have no central command but often strike in coordinated patterns using motorcycles, firearms, and machetes, mostly in rural areas.
“Violence by Fulani militants caused the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the last year,” the report stated.
“An estimated 30,000 Fulani militants likely operate across the country, traditionally concentrating in the country’s northwest, then migrating down through the Middle Belt, and becoming increasingly active in the South. Each group consists of anywhere from 10 to 1,000 members. While these militants do not share a centralized leadership, some collaborate on attacks.”
The document points to several major attacks, including deadly raids in Benue and Plateau states, where hundreds of people were killed in separate incidents. One of the most striking cases cited involved an attack in Benue in June 2025 that killed more than 200 people, including displaced families sheltering in a church mission.
The report also recorded kidnappings as a growing tactic. It detailed that armed groups have abducted pastors, worshippers, and villagers from both churches and mosques, often demanding large ransom payments. Some victims remain missing for months due to ongoing negotiations. Attacks during religious holidays also appear in the findings.
The report furthered that some assaults were carried out during Christmas and Easter periods, which in turn increased fear among worshippers and disrupted religious gatherings.
The commission added that the violence is driven by a mix of factors, including land pressure, poverty, and competition over grazing routes. It also noted that religion plays a role in some cases, though it does not describe it as the only cause.
Government response was also questioned in the report. It brought to light the fact that security forces are often slow to reach attacked communities. However, the report acknowledges recent government actions.
Nigeria, it said, declared armed groups, including Fulani militants, as terrorists in December 2025. It also referenced military operations in 2026 that led to arrests and the rescue of hundreds of kidnapped victims in different states.
“There has been some evidence of increased government efforts, both before and after the October CPC designation, to address Fulani-led violence through prosecutions and community-level engagement. In September, prosecutors filed initial terrorism charges against nine Fulani herders,” the report stated.
