U.S. lawmaker cites report alleging Fulani militants killed more Christians than Boko Haram, ISIS

Crime Diary

WASHINGTON, United States (NPA) — United States Congressman Riley Moore has cited a recent report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), alleging that Fulani militants were responsible for more deaths in Nigeria over the past year than Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Moore, who heads a congressional committee established by President Donald Trump to investigate allegations of killings of Christians, made the remarks in a post on his X account on Saturday.

The lawmaker referenced a USCIRF report titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” published on May 8, 2026.

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According to the report, armed groups of Fulani ethnic background have carried out some of the most deadly and high-profile attacks on religious communities in Nigeria in recent years, often, though not exclusively, targeting Christians.

USCIRF said the publication examined the role of Fulani-led militant violence in the deterioration of religious freedom conditions in Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian government’s response to the attacks.

The commission, an independent bipartisan agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor religious freedom worldwide, also highlighted violations committed by non-state actors in Nigeria in its 2026 Annual Report.

It maintained its recommendation that Nigeria be designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing persistent violence against religious communities and other religious freedom challenges.

The report stated that Fulani militants were responsible for more deaths than Boko Haram or ISWAP during the review period, with Christian farming communities among the primary targets of the attacks.

Commenting on the findings, the Chief Executive Officer of Open Doors, Henrietta Blyth, described the human cost of the violence as devastating. “My heart has been broken as I have heard stories from women and men who have seen their beloved family members butchered in front of them or carried off into a life of slavery,” she said.

Reacting to the report, Moore said its findings reinforced conclusions reached by a congressional review conducted alongside fellow lawmaker Mario Díaz-Balart and submitted to President Trump. “The latest USCIRF report further details a horrific truth that Mario Díaz-Balart and I revealed in our report to President Trump,” Moore wrote.

“Fulani militants killed more people in Nigeria over the past year than Boko Haram or ISIS. Innocent Christians are bearing the brunt of this violent persecution.”

He added that Trump had recognised the need to address threats against Christians in Nigeria through measures included in the administration’s counterterrorism strategy.

“America is a Christian nation. We must continue to stand with those who are persecuted for their faith and hold these terrorists accountable,” Moore said.

The report comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt and North-Central regions. Earlier, Newpost Africa® published a video report highlighting the plight of residents of Oganiju Community in Kogi State, where worsening insecurity and repeated attacks by armed groups and militias have forced residents to flee, leaving the community largely deserted. The report stressed the growing humanitarian and security challenges facing rural communities affected by violence across the country.

The Nigerian government has not officially responded to Moore’s latest comments at the time of filing this report.