The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has alleged that approximately 30,000 armed militants are operating across Nigeria, contributing to worsening insecurity and widespread violence in several regions.
In a May 2026 report titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” the commission described the armed groups as some of the deadliest non-state actors responsible for violations of religious freedom in the country.
The report stated that the militants operate in loosely organised groups ranging from 10 to as many as 1,000 members. It further claimed that attacks have intensified insecurity across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and Southern regions, resulting in thousands of deaths and large-scale displacement of communities.
“Violence by militants caused the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the last year as compared to attacks by organised insurgent groups and criminal gangs,” the report stated.
USCIRF noted that while many of the attacks were directed at Christian communities, Muslim populations have also suffered killings, kidnappings, and raids.
The commission further explained that the armed groups lack centralised leadership but in some cases coordinate with criminal gangs and extremist organisations. According to the report, their motivations vary widely, ranging from financial gain to ideological aims.
“While many militant groups wage independent attacks, others periodically coordinate with a wide range of other actors, from conventional bandit gangs seeking financial enrichment to recognised terrorist organisations that espouse a violent interpretation of Islam,” the report said.
The report also described a recurring pattern of nighttime raids on rural settlements, where attackers reportedly use motorcycles, automatic weapons, and machetes to carry out assaults. These tactics, it said, are often aimed at forcing residents to flee and enabling control over targeted land.
USCIRF added that at least 1.3 million people have been displaced in Nigeria’s Middle Belt as a result of the violence, with many forced into overcrowded camps lacking basic sanitation and adequate security.
The findings highlight ongoing concerns over Nigeria’s security crisis and the growing humanitarian impact of prolonged armed conflict in affected regions.
