USCIRF Report Says 30,000 Armed Fulani Militants Are Operating Across Nigeria

A new report released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has raised fresh concerns about insecurity and religious violence in Nigeria, revealing that an estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants are currently operating across different parts of the country.

The report, published in May 2026 and titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” described the armed groups as some of the deadliest non-state actors responsible for violent attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and parts of Southern Nigeria.

According to the commission, the militants operate in varying group sizes ranging from small units of about 10 fighters to heavily armed clusters of up to 1,000 members. The report stated that these groups have carried out coordinated attacks that resulted in thousands of deaths, mass displacement, destruction of communities, and worsening religious tensions across affected regions.

USCIRF noted that attacks linked to Fulani militants accounted for the highest number of deaths among religious communities in Nigeria over the past year, surpassing casualties caused by organized insurgent groups and criminal gangs.

The commission stated that although many of the attacks targeted Christian communities, Muslim communities had also suffered kidnappings, killings, and violent raids. According to the report, the violence has affected multiple religious groups and contributed to growing fear in vulnerable rural communities.

The report explained that the militants often launch nighttime attacks using motorcycles, automatic weapons, and machetes to terrorize residents and force communities off their ancestral lands. USCIRF said the attacks were frequently designed to create panic and displacement while enabling greater control over disputed territories.

While the report stated that Fulani militant groups do not operate under a single central command, it noted that some factions occasionally collaborate with armed bandit groups and extremist organizations pursuing financial or ideological objectives.

USCIRF also disclosed that at least 1.3 million people have been displaced across Nigeria’s Middle Belt as a result of violence involving Fulani militants and other armed groups. Many displaced persons, according to the report, are now living in overcrowded camps with limited access to security, healthcare, and sanitation.

The commission referenced several deadly incidents recorded between 2025 and early 2026, including attacks in Benue State and Plateau State. Among them was a June 2025 attack in Benue State where at least 200 people, including internally displaced persons sheltering at a Catholic mission, were reportedly killed.

The report also highlighted the Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where more than 200 Christians, mainly women and children, were allegedly killed while thousands of others were displaced from their homes.

USCIRF stated that some attacks were deliberately timed to coincide with Christian religious celebrations, including Palm Sunday and Easter, in an effort to maximize fear and psychological impact within affected communities.

In addition to attacks on Christian communities, the report documented incidents involving Muslim worshippers. It cited a February 2026 attack in Plateau State where armed men reportedly abducted an imam and seven worshippers from a mosque before demanding a ransom of ₦16 million.

The commission further criticized the response of Nigerian security agencies, alleging that victims frequently complained of delayed intervention during attacks. According to USCIRF, some Christian advocacy groups also accused security operatives of bias during investigations and security operations.

The report revealed that the United States Congress introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 earlier this year, proposing sanctions over alleged violations connected to religious violence in the country.

Despite ongoing military operations and peace-building initiatives, USCIRF warned that insecurity remains widespread across central Nigeria, with rural communities continuing to face threats from armed groups and escalating communal tensions.