The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has accused some Nigerian police and military personnel of collaborating with Fulani militias involved in deadly attacks and mass kidnappings across parts of the country.
The claim was made in a May 2026 report titled “Non-state Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants”, which also called on the US Congress to restrict lobbying payments for individuals representing foreign governments already sanctioned for severe religious freedom abuses.
According to the commission, competing narratives and alleged censorship in Nigeria have made it difficult to clearly identify the actors behind the violence and their motivations.
“The fates of all these kidnapping victims, like so many others, remain unknown to the public due to the sensitivity of ransom negotiations and, in some cases, possible collusion between perpetrators and some officials from the police and/or army,” the report stated.
It added that misinformation and restricted reporting have complicated efforts to analyse the scale and drivers of attacks.
“Further complicating matters is the fact that both conflicting media narratives and reported government censorship have hindered accurate analysis of the identities and motivations of the alarming number of armed nonstate actors that violate religious freedom in Nigeria,” it said.
The report noted differing interpretations of the violence, ranging from economic and environmental explanations to claims of targeted religious persecution.
USCIRF added: “Some observers have argued environmental and economic factors as the driving force behind Fulani militants’ acts of violence, while others have suggested that these actors are engaged in a concerted campaign of outright genocide against non-Muslims, especially Christians.”
It further stated: “In fact, multiple and overlapping factors, including religion in many cases, likely spur Fulani militants to attack communities or individuals.”
The commission estimated that about 1.3 million people have been displaced in Nigeria’s Middle Belt due to ongoing violence, with armed groups operating across multiple regions.
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“These actors operate in a variety of contexts and with a multiplicity of likely aims and motivations… others periodically coordinate with a wide range of other actors… including bandit gangs and terrorist organisations,” the report said.
It added that displaced populations now live in overcrowded and unsafe camps due to repeated attacks on rural communities.
According to USCIRF, militants often carry out night raids using motorcycles, firearms and machetes, forcing residents to flee.
“They often wield machetes and descend on vulnerable communities during the night, eliciting terror as a way to force victims to quickly leave,” it said.
The report cited several attacks in 2025 and 2026, including killings in Benue, Plateau and Kaduna states, as well as abductions involving both churches and mosques.
It also referenced ransom demands, including ₦16 million in one case, and said violence was sometimes timed around Christian holidays to heighten psychological impact.
USCIRF further criticised Nigeria’s security response and noted allegations of bias in some operations, while highlighting state efforts to reduce herder-farmer conflicts.
On policy, the commission urged the US Congress to tighten rules on lobbying for countries designated as religious freedom violators and to strengthen humanitarian support for displaced populations.
It also called for a review of US foreign aid to ensure alignment with religious freedom goals and urged Washington to prioritise faith protection in its global policy framework.
At the time of filing of this report, the Nigerian Army or Police are yet to publicly comment on the report and allegations.