The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says about 30,000 armed militants are operating across Nigeria, contributing to widespread insecurity and religious freedom violations. In its May 2026 report titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants”, the commission said the armed groups have become some of the deadliest non-state actors in the country.
According to the report, attacks intensified across the Middle Belt and southern parts of Nigeria, leaving thousands dead and displacing at least 1.3 million people. The commission said many of the attacks targeted Christian communities, although Muslim communities had also suffered killings, kidnappings, and raids.
The report cited several incidents in 2025 and 2026, including attacks in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Niger states. It said more than 200 people were killed in one attack in Benue in June 2025, while Easter attacks in April 2026 reportedly left dozens dead and several worshippers abducted.
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The commission criticised federal and state authorities for what it described as slow and inadequate responses to the violence. It also urged governments across Nigeria to create conditions that support the safe practice of religious freedom while strengthening efforts to tackle insecurity and communal tensions.
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