The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has reported that armed Fulani militias have displaced about 1.3 million people across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, following sustained waves of violent attacks affecting communities in the region.
Key Highlights:
- USCIRF estimates 1.3 million displaced people in Middle Belt Nigeria
- About 30,000 Fulani militants reportedly active across affected states
- Violence linked to militias said to cause highest religious-related deaths in Nigeria
- Attacks include killings, abductions, sexual violence, and ransom extortion
- Displacement camps described as overcrowded and unsafe
- Crisis worsens religious freedom conditions across Christian and Muslim communities
In a report released on May 28, the commission also estimated that roughly 30,000 Fulani militants were operating in different parts of Nigeria, allegedly targeting predominantly farming communities.
According to USCIRF, violence attributed to Fulani militant groups accounted for the highest number of deaths among religious communities in Nigeria over the past year, surpassing attacks linked to other insurgent and criminal networks.
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The report stated that these groups operate with varying levels of brutality, including kidnappings and sexual assaults, often aimed at forcing ransom payments from affected families and communities.
“These Fulani militant attacks, among those of other actors, have forced at least 1.3 million people in the Middle Belt off their land and into overcrowded, unsanitary and unsafe conditions in displacement camps,” the commission noted.
USCIRF further explained that the violence has deepened humanitarian and religious tensions across the Middle Belt, affecting both Christian and Muslim populations in rural and farming settlements.
It added that the situation continues to undermine religious freedom conditions in Nigeria, as repeated attacks have made it increasingly difficult for displaced people in Middle Belt communities to return to their ancestral homes.
The commission also referenced earlier global security assessments, noting that Fulani militant groups were previously ranked among the world’s deadliest armed actors in the 2014 Global Terrorism Index.
As insecurity persists, humanitarian agencies continue to warn of worsening conditions in displacement camps, where access to shelter, healthcare, and clean water remains limited.
