LAGOS, Nigeria – An estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants operating across Nigeria have been identified as the primary drivers of violence and mass displacement in the country, according to a May 2026 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The USCIRF stated that these groups caused the highest number of fatalities among all religious communities in Nigeria over the past year, exceeding deaths attributed to insurgent factions and criminal gangs. Okay News reports that the militants operate in clusters ranging from 10 to 1,000 fighters to execute coordinated assaults across the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria.
The commission reported that the violence resulted in the displacement of at least 1.3 million people who currently reside in overcrowded camps with inadequate security and sanitation. The report detailed an attack in June 2025 in Benue State where at least 200 individuals sheltering in a Catholic mission were killed. Another incident cited was the Yelwata massacre in Benue State, which resulted in the deaths of over 200 Christians and the displacement of more than 3,000 residents.
Attacks were frequently timed to coincide with religious observations. “Militant actors have often carried out operations during Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter to further maximise the psychological impact,” the commission said. In April 2026, militants reportedly killed five worshippers and abducted 31 others at two churches in Kaduna State on Easter Sunday. The violence extended to Muslim communities, including a February 2026 abduction of an imam and seven worshippers from a mosque in Plateau State, leading to a ransom demand of N16 million ($11,648).
Federal and state authorities faced criticism in the document over their handling of the security crisis. “Victims have long reported that security forces are consistently slow to respond to attacks on their communities,” the USCIRF said. The report acknowledged recent government actions, noting that Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu designated violent armed groups, including Fulani militants, as terrorists in December 2025. This followed a decision by the United States government under President Donald Trump in October 2025 to label Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern regarding religious freedom violations.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria denied allegations of failing to curb land invasions and militant activities. “We do not support, condone, harbour, finance or protect any form of criminality, extremism or violence,” the association said. In February 2026, the US Congress introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, proposing sanctions against the association over alleged involvement in severe religious freedom violations.
