Nigeria reports 5,000+ Christians killed or abducted in first half of 2026

A mid‑year report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law says at least 2,550 Christians were killed and 2,800 abducted in Nigeria between January and June 2026, while an additional 1,050 Muslims were killed and 1,150 abducted. The report attributes the violence to Fulani‑linked armed groups, Boko Haram, ISWAP and other jihadist factions, noting the destruction of roughly 300 churches, forced conversions of about 800 women and children, and the killing of 10 pastors.

In Plateau state, community leaders highlighted the June 24 killing of Christian church worker John Telle Danjuma near Miango, allegedly by armed Fulani militants. Local groups have appealed to the Nigerian government and the United States for protection and investigation, warning that repeated attacks threaten the safety of farming and Christian communities across the Middle Belt.