The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed concern over what it describes as possible coordination between certain Nigerian security personnel and armed Fulani militant groups implicated in violent incidents across parts of the country.
In a report titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” released in May 2026, the commission stated that a number of kidnapping cases and violent attacks remain unresolved, citing what it called “possible collusion” involving elements within the police and military.
The report claims that armed Fulani militant groups have played a significant role in worsening insecurity and religious tensions across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and some southern regions, with Christian communities frequently affected.
It further estimated that around 30,000 armed militants operate in decentralized networks nationwide, and asserted that violence linked to these groups resulted in more fatalities in the past year than some established insurgent organizations.
USCIRF also reported that more than 1.3 million people have been displaced by ongoing violence, particularly in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa.
The commission noted, however, that the situation remains highly contested, with some analysts attributing the violence to economic and environmental pressures rather than religious targeting, while others view it as persecution-driven conflict.
As of the time of reporting, Nigerian security authorities had not issued an official response to the latest USCIRF findings.
