US Commission: 30,000 Armed Fulani Militants Driving Nigeria’s Insecurity

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has reported that approximately 30,000 armed Fulani militants are active throughout Nigeria, exacerbating the nation’s insecurity and violations of religious freedom. According to the commission’s May 2026 report, titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” these groups operate in clusters of varying sizes and have been responsible for coordinated attacks primarily in the Middle Belt and southern regions. The violence attributed to these militants has resulted in significant casualties, mass displacements, and increased religious tensions, with the report indicating that such attacks have led to the highest death toll among religious communities in Nigeria over the past year. The commission highlighted the Nigerian government’s inadequate response to the ongoing crisis and urged for immediate reforms to mitigate the threats posed by these non-state actors.

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