30,000 armed Fulani militants driving Nigeria’s insecurity — US govt

The United States Commission connected International Religious Freedom, USCIRF, has disclosed that nary less than 30,000 equipped Fulani militants are presently operating crossed Nigeria.

The USCIRF’s study titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom successful Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” said equipped Fulani militants are the ones worsening insecurity and spiritual state violations successful respective parts of the country.

The report, which was released successful May 2026, described the equipped groups arsenic immoderate of the deadliest non-state actors liable for convulsive attacks crossed the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria.

The USCIRF stated that the militants run successful clusters ranging from 10 to 1,000 fighters, carrying retired coordinated assaults that person led to thousands of deaths, wide displacement and heightened spiritual tensions.

According to the Commission, attacks linked to Fulani militants accounted for the highest fig of deaths among spiritual communities successful Nigeria successful the past year, surpassing casualties attributed to organised insurgent groups and transgression gangs.

It pointed retired that though galore attacks targeted Christian communities, Muslim communities had besides suffered killings, kidnappings and raids.

“Violence by Fulani militants caused the highest fig of deaths among each spiritual communities successful Nig...