The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has accused some Nigerian police and military personnel of allegedly colluding with Fulani militant groups involved in deadly attacks and mass abductions targeting religious communities across the country.
In a May 2026 report titled “Non-state Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” the commission said conflicting narratives, weak accountability, and alleged government censorship have hampered accurate assessments of the motivations and identities of armed groups behind the violence.
According to the report, some kidnapping cases remain unresolved partly because of the “sensitivity of ransom negotiations” and alleged complicity by certain security officials.
“Possible collusion between perpetrators and some officials from the police and/or army” has complicated efforts to address the crisis, the report stated.
USCIRF said the violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt has displaced at least 1.3 million people, with armed groups operating in loosely coordinated networks across the North-West, Middle Belt, and parts of southern Nigeria.
The commission estimated that about 30,000 armed actors are active nationwide, ranging from small gangs to larger militant formations linked to banditry and extremist organisations.
The report documented several attacks in 2025 and early 2026, including mass killings in Benue and Plateau states. It referenced the Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where more than 200 Christians were reportedly killed and over 3,000 displaced.
USCIRF also alleged that some attacks were deliberately timed to coincide with Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas in order to intensify psychological impact on affected communities.
The commission further criticised what it described as inadequate responses from federal and state authorities, noting accusations from some Christian advocacy groups that security agencies often display bias during investigations and operations.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, disclosed that President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to prioritise protection efforts for Nigerian Christians targeted by ISIS-linked groups.
Hegseth stated that the directive reportedly contributed to the elimination of ISIS’ second-in-command in Nigeria.
“There’s a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the president empowers the department to do on behalf of the American people, that he deserves great credit for,” he said.
The report also urged the US Congress to prohibit lobbyists from receiving payments to represent foreign governments designated as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) over severe religious freedom violations.
Nigeria was redesignated a CPC in 2025 by the Trump administration over allegations of systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.
USCIRF additionally called for increased humanitarian support for displaced victims in Nigeria, including expanded funding for healthcare, education, and relief efforts in refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Reacting to the report, National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said allegations of insider collaboration within Nigeria’s security architecture were not new.
“We have always maintained that there are people within the security services aiding insurgents in this country,” he said, arguing that repeated attacks on military formations suggest the presence of insider support networks.
Similarly, pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere said the commission’s claims should not be dismissed.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, stated that the prolonged nature of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria points to possible sabotage and complicity from influential quarters.
He urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations and intensify internal security reforms.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Nigeria Police Force and Defence Headquarters were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to spokespersons of both agencies were not returned as of press time.
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