Nigeria confronts 30,000 armed Fulani militants in escalating violence, US report warns

A U.S. government commission released a May 2026 report estimating that about 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across Nigeria. The groups, organized in cells of 10 to 1,000 fighters, have carried out coordinated night attacks on isolated rural communities, using motorcycles, automatic weapons and machetes. The report documents thousands of deaths, mass displacement of roughly 1.3 million people and repeated assaults on both Christian and Muslim worship sites, including massacres in Benue State’s Yelwata village and Easter‑day attacks on churches in Kaduna.

The commission states the militants deliberately time attacks to coincide with religious holidays to maximise psychological impact. It also records widespread kidnappings, sexual violence and ransom demands, such as the February 2026 abduction of an imam and seven worshippers in Plateau State.

In response, the U.S. Congress introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, urging sanctions on the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and recommending that the State Department designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. The commission continues to call for stronger international action to curb the severe religious‑freedom violations.

"They often descend on vulnerable communities during the night, eliciting terror as a way to force victims to quickly leave," the report said.