A new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) has raised fresh concerns over escalating violence in Nigeria, naming armed Fulani militant groups as the country’s deadliest non-state actors targeting religious communities.
The May 2026 report alleges that these groups are responsible for more deaths than Boko Haram or Islamic State-affiliated factions in recent years, citing repeated raids, kidnappings, and land-related clashes that have devastated both Christian and Muslim communities across central and northern Nigeria.
According to the findings, the worst-hit areas include Plateau and Benue states, where rural communities have faced frequent nighttime attacks, forced displacement, and destruction of places of worship and farmland.
One of the most widely cited incidents in the report is the June 2025 attack on the Yelwata community in Benue State, where more than 200 people were reportedly killed during an assault on a Catholic mission settlement. The report describes the attack as emblematic of a broader pattern of rural insecurity that has intensified over the past several years.
Humanitarian groups say the violence has contributed to a deepening displacement crisis. The report estimates that around 1.3 million people have been forced from their homes in affected regions, many now living in overcrowded camps or relying on host communities with limited resources.
Henrietta Blyth, Chief Executive Officer of Open Doors UK and Ireland (Open Doors UK and Ireland), expressed concern over testimonies from survivors, saying the accounts reflect “a devastating pattern of fear and loss that continues to uproot entire communities.” She added that the international community must “pay closer attention to the scale of suffering unfolding in rural Nigeria.”
In Washington, U.S. lawmaker Representative Riley Moore said the findings underscore the need for accountability and stronger international pressure. “These reports highlight a humanitarian crisis that can no longer be ignored,” he was quoted as saying, calling for clearer measures to address religiously motivated violence.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims that the violence is religiously driven, insisting that the attacks are largely criminal in nature and linked to armed banditry and competition over land and resources. Security officials say military operations have been launched in several affected states to restore order and dismantle armed groups.
However, critics argue that the response has been slow and inconsistent, allowing armed groups to operate across vast rural areas with limited resistance. Local leaders in affected states continue to call for increased security presence, improved intelligence coordination, and faster emergency response mechanisms.
Analysts say the situation reflects a complex mix of ethnic tensions, climate pressures, and weak rural governance, making it difficult to separate criminal activity from communal conflict in many cases. Despite repeated government assurances, attacks on villages and farming communities continue to be reported.
As international scrutiny grows, pressure is mounting on Nigerian authorities to demonstrate measurable progress in protecting vulnerable populations. For many affected communities, however, the priority remains immediate survival and the hope that security conditions will improve enough to allow displaced families to return home.