US report indicates 30,000 armed Fulani militants contributing to increased insecurity in Nigeria

A report released in May 2026 by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) estimates that approximately 30,000 armed Fulani militants are active across Nigeria, operating in groups ranging from 10 to 1,000 members, which exacerbates insecurity and religious strife.

Entitled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” the report highlights that this group has become a significant factor in the escalating violence in the Middle Belt and southern regions, resulting in deaths and displacement.

“Violence perpetrated by Fulani militants has led to the highest number of fatalities among all religious communities in Nigeria during the past year, surpassing assaults by organized insurgent groups and criminal gangs,” the report reveals.

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USCIRF points out that these attacks have impacted both Christian and Muslim communities, with militants sometimes operating alone or in coordination with criminal gangs and extremist organizations.

“While many Fulani militant factions conduct independent assaults, others occasionally collaborate with various actors, including typical bandit groups pursuing financial gain, as well as recognized terrorist entities that advocate for a violent interpretation of Islam.”

The report also describes how attackers typically target rural communities at night using motorcycles and firearms.

“They frequently use machetes and invade vulnerable communities under the cover of darkness, instilling fear to compel victims to flee quickly and gain control over the sought-after land.”

The commission criticized the slow response of security forces, asserting that central Nigeria is trapped in a “seemingly perpetual crisis of insecurity.”