Victor Ezeja
Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM), an ethno-religious terror group, have killed more civilians in Nigeria than members of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliate groups – the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram – did in four years.
This is according to a four-year study by researchers at the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe report titled “Countering the Myth of Religious Indifference in Nigeria’s Terror” which was released on Thursday, 29th August, offers critical insights into the patterns and dynamics of the violence in the northern region of Nigeria.
In the four-year study, which covered from 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2023, ORFA researchers recorded 55,910 killings in 9,970 attacks, 21,621 abductions in 2,705 attacks and several incidents of farmland destruction in Nigeria including North Central Zone and Southern Kaduna in four years.
The report said that out of the 55,910, a total of 30,880 civilians were killed in 6,942 attacks, while the remaining 25,030 people killed were members of the Security Forces or Terror Groups.
READ ALSO: Fulani Ethnic Militia, Others Kill 55000+ Nigerian Civilians In 9000 Unopposed Attacks- Report
The study found that most of the havoc was done by the Fulani Ethnic Militia, which it described as “less-known aggressors.” It said: “Only a fraction of civilians were killed by ISIS or al-Qaeda affiliates. The little-known Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) killed at least 42% of all civilians, while Boko Haram and ISWAP (‘Islamic State West Africa Province) combined killed 10%.”
According to findings of the study, the Fulani Ethnic Militia are killing Nigerian civilians “unopposed,” adding that “Mass killings, abductions and the torture of whole families go largely unchallenged as government forces pursue targets hundreds of miles away.”
Also, the data show that more Nigerian Christians were victims of violence than those of other religious affiliations.
“Amongst the 30,880 civilians killed in the 4-year reporting period, the number of Christians killed was 16,769, while the number of Muslims killed was 6,235,” it stated.
On cases of abduction, it revealed that “among the 21,532 civilians abducted, the number of Christians abducted was 11,185, while the number of Muslims abducted was 7,899.” The number of African Traditional Religionists (ATRs) killed was 154 and the number of ATRs abducted was 184. The religious identity of 7,722 civilians killed and 2,264 civilians abducted remained unknown.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
