Fulani Militants Active in Nigeria, Report Claims

JOHANNESBURG — A new report indicates that around 30,000 predominantly Muslim Fulani militants are currently operating in Nigeria, contributing to significant “insecurity and violations of religious freedom.” This assessment comes from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The USCIRF stated that “violence by Fulani extremists caused the most deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria last year, surpassing attacks from organized rebel groups and criminal gangs.” The report describes the Fulani as nomadic herders who primarily target Christian farming communities in the Middle Belt and further south, often engaging in acts such as arson, kidnapping, rape, and murder.

Interestingly, a former State Department counterterrorism expert highlighted that military actions, like those the U.S. has taken against groups such as Boko Haram, would likely not address the issues arising from the Fulani militants in Christian-majority regions.

Sterling Tilley, a former deputy director of the State Department’s counterterrorism division, suggested that a military response to the farmer-herder conflict could lead to further instability. He emphasized the necessity of political will in Nigeria to effectively reduce the violence.

Recently, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth shared that President Donald Trump was moved by the plight of a Nigerian Christian victimized by ISIS and expressed a desire for the U.S. to do more to protect Christians in Nigeria.

About 48% of Nigeria’s population identify as Christians. According to the USCIRF report, the Fulani militants frequently carry out attacks during Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, which adds to the psychological distress within affected communities. During these assaults, they are known to shout religious slogans, including “allah akbar,” meaning “God is great.”

However, the situation is not one-sided; there are accounts of attacks on Muslims as well. The report noted that Fulani militants also target other Muslim communities, often raiding cattle and attacking those who do not belong to their faction.

“The violence committed by Fulani extremists far exceeds that from all other extremist groups,” mentioned Henrietta Bryce, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, underscoring the high victims’ toll and personal tragedies she’s aware of.

She added, “The situation is complex; it’s overly simplistic to label all perpetrators as driven by religion. Still, it’s undeniable that Christians are particularly vulnerable, often facing dire consequences.” Many have been displaced and are in urgent need of support to reclaim their lives.

The USCIRF report criticized the responses from Nigerian authorities towards the Fulani insurgency as inadequate, with some labeling them as complicit in the violence.

Tilley also pointed out that with elections on the horizon, the Nigerian government might hesitate to tackle this pressing issue due to the Fulani’s significant political influence, particularly in northern and central regions.

The Nigerian government was contacted for a comment but had not responded at the time of publication.