USCIRF report links Fulani militants to rising deaths, displacement, and religious freedom violations across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Newsroom (29/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Fulani militant groups were responsible for the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the past year, according to a recent issue update by the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The report highlights the increasingly complex and deteriorating conditions surrounding religious freedom in Africa’s most populous nation.
USCIRF emphasized that conflicting media narratives and alleged government censorship have made it difficult to fully analyze the identities and motivations of armed non-state actors operating across Nigeria. This lack of clarity, the report suggests, has hindered efforts to fully understand the scale and nature of the violence attributed to Fulani militants.
Complex Motivations Behind Attacks
The commission underscored that violence linked to Fulani militants cannot be explained by a single cause. While some observers attribute the attacks to economic pressures, environmental stress, or even genocidal intent against non-Muslim populations, USCIRF concluded that the reality is more complex.
“In fact, multiple and overlapping factors, including religion in many cases, likely spur Fulani militants to attack communities or individuals,” the report noted.
The Fulani—an ethnic group largely originating from northern Nigeria—make up approximately 6% of the country’s estimated population of 242.4 million. Within this population, about 30,000 individuals are believed to operate in militant factions. These groups vary widely in size, ranging from small cells of 10 members to larger forces of up to 1,000, and are primarily active in the northwest and the Middle Belt region.
Widespread Impact on Communities
Regardless of the motivations behind the attacks, USCIRF stressed that the consequences have been devastating and uniform. Fulani-led land invasions and violent raids have severely disrupted daily life, particularly for farming communities.
Both Christian and Muslim farmers have been affected, facing destruction of their homes, loss of livelihoods, and the inability to practice their religion safely. The violence has included targeted attacks on villages, the burning of homes and churches, and widespread killings.
The report also highlighted the use of sexual violence and kidnapping as tools of intimidation and extortion. In several instances, Fulani militants have targeted both non-Fulani Muslim communities and Christian populations, underscoring the broad and indiscriminate nature of the violence.
Mass Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis
One of the most severe consequences of the escalating violence has been mass displacement. USCIRF estimates that at least 1.3 million people have been forced from their homes in the Middle Belt region alone.
Displaced individuals are often relocated to camps where conditions are described as unsanitary and unsafe, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. These environments pose additional risks to health and security, compounding the trauma experienced by victims of the violence.
Criticism of Government Response
The response from Nigerian federal and state authorities has come under sharp criticism. USCIRF described government actions as “unsatisfactory at best and complicit at worst.”
Victims have consistently reported that security forces fail to respond promptly to attacks, leaving communities vulnerable. Additionally, some Christian advocacy groups have accused security personnel of demonstrating favoritism toward Muslim communities when responding to or investigating incidents.
These allegations, whether substantiated or not, have further deepened mistrust between affected communities and state institutions.
Persistent Crisis Despite International Attention
The report notes that Fulani militant attacks have persisted despite international scrutiny and policy measures. In October 2025, the United States designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to severe violations of religious freedom. However, violence has continued unabated, even amid ongoing bilateral security discussions.
Fulani militants have maintained large-scale incursions into agricultural lands, raids on religious sites belonging to both Christians and Muslims, and kidnappings of clergy and laypersons alike.
An Entrenched and Ongoing Threat
USCIRF concluded that central Nigeria remains locked in what it described as a “daily and seemingly perpetual crisis of insecurity.” Without substantial reforms, the commission warned, the situation is unlikely to improve.
The report called for broader structural changes at both federal and state levels to create conditions conducive to the safe practice of religious freedom. Until such measures are implemented, the cycle of violence, displacement, and insecurity is expected to persist.
This evolving crisis reflects not only the challenges of maintaining security in a diverse and rapidly growing country, but also the urgent need for coordinated solutions that address both the immediate violence and its deeper underlying causes.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA News
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