Nigeria Records 79,323 Deaths in Six Years, 44% Attributed to Armed Fulani Groups

A Terrifying Toll: 79,323 Deaths in Six Years

79,323 people were killed in terrorism-related violence in Nigeria between 2020 and 2025, according to a new report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa. 34,773 civilians were abducted during the same period.

The report, titled 'Four Times Boko Haram? How the World Misreads Nigeria's Violence,' challenges the widespread perception that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province are the primary perpetrators of violence in Nigeria. In reality, armed groups categorized as 'Fulani Terror Groups' were responsible for 44% of all civilian deaths, representing 18,577 killings.

'We examined how killings occur, who the victims are, where attacks take place and the seasonal patterns of violence. The evidence points strongly in one direction,' said Frans Vierhout, Senior Research Analyst at the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa.

The report highlights the alarming scale of the violence, with an average of seven attacks and 36 deaths every day. It also notes that 42,033 civilians were killed during the period, while security forces and members of terrorist groups accounted for the remaining 37,290 deaths.

The Hidden Victims: Christians Face Harsher Conditions in Captivity

The investigation also found that 75% of civilians were killed during attacks on communities, many of which involved raids on farming settlements, abductions, rape and destruction of property. The report highlights a 'Captivity by Creed' pattern, based on survivor testimonies, where Muslim captives generally faced lower ransom demands and less violence, while Christian captives were subjected to higher ransom demands, a greater likelihood of execution and, in the case of women, a higher risk of sexual violence.

According to the report, 28,551 Christians and 13,224 Muslims were killed during the review period. When adjusted for state population figures, Christians in affected states were killed at 4.4 times the rate of Muslims.

The Forgotten War: What Nigeria's Terrorism Problem Looks Like

The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa has been monitoring terrorism in Nigeria for years, documenting human rights violations and providing research to inform policy and advocacy. The findings of this report reveal a more complex and nuanced picture of terrorism in Nigeria than previously thought.

As the government faces increasing pressure to address the security crisis, activists and experts like Vierhout are pushing for a more comprehensive approach that acknowledges the role of armed Fulani groups in the violence.

The report's findings challenge the widespread perception that Boko Haram and ISWAP are the primary perpetrators of violence in Nigeria. In reality, the data reveals that Fulani terror groups are responsible for 44% of all civilian deaths, representing 18,577 killings.