Fulani Militants: A Growing Security Challenge in Nigeria
An estimated 30,000 Fulani militants act as a significant source of insecurity in Nigeria, according to a new report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The report highlights that violence perpetrated by these Fulani militants resulted in more deaths among religious communities in Nigeria over the past year than attacks by other militant groups or criminal gangs.
The Fulani, primarily identified as livestock herders, are alleged to have attacked Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, and increasingly in the South. These attacks include burning homes and churches, kidnapping, raping, and murdering individuals. For example, funerals were held for 27 Christians reportedly killed by Fulani tribesmen in Bindi village, Plateau State, on July 28, 2025.
Sterling Tilley, former acting director of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, advised against U.S. military intervention in the farmer-herder conflict, as it may escalate instability. Tilley emphasized that any resolution requires political commitment from Nigerian authorities.
Recent protests, like one in Benue State in June 2025, followed deadly attacks by Fulani militants, which killed 218 people and displaced 6,000. Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth noted efforts to protect Christians targeted by ISIS in Nigeria, reflecting an ongoing concern in the international community.
The USCIRF report pointed out that Fulani militants sometimes attack during Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter to instill fear. Despite the focus on attacks on Christians, Muslims have also suffered, with accounts of raids on herders and attacks on non-Fulani Muslim communities.
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, stated that violence by Fulani militants surpasses that of Boko Haram and ISWAP. Blyth expressed concern for the victims who witness violence or face a future of slavery. She also highlighted the complexity of the situation, noting that religious motivation is not the sole cause of the violence, yet Christians often suffer significant harm.
The report criticizes federal and state responses to Fulani militant violence as often inadequate or complicit. With upcoming elections, Tilley mentioned that the Nigerian government might hesitate to take decisive action against the Fulani militants to maintain political support in the North and Middle Belt.
Efforts to get comments from the Nigerian government were unsuccessful at the time of publication. For further updates, Paul Tilsley, a correspondent based in Johannesburg, can be followed on social media for firsthand insights.