The International Society for Civil Rights and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has alleged that no fewer than 3,550 Nigerians were killed by suspected jihadist groups across the country between January and June 2026.
The human rights organisation disclosed this in a report released on Thursday, claiming that the victims included approximately 2,550 Christians and 1,000 Muslims killed in attacks across different parts of Nigeria.
According to the report, about 3,950 people were also abducted during the six-month period, comprising 2,800 Christians and 1,150 Muslims.
The report was signed by Intersociety’s Lead Researcher and Head of Security, Safety and Field Data Collection, Emeka Umeagbalasi, alongside Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Obianuju Joy Igboeli and Chinwe Umeche.
Intersociety further alleged that armed groups destroyed about 300 churches, killed 10 Christian pastors, abducted another 10 clerics and forcibly converted approximately 800 Christian women and children to Islam while in captivity.
The organisation accused the Nigerian government of failing to effectively address the country’s worsening security situation. It argued that the government’s inability to prosecute those responsible or seek international intervention under the International Criminal Court amounted to what it described as “unwillingness and inability” to tackle the crisis.
Providing a breakdown of its findings, Intersociety claimed that an estimated 2,550 Christians were killed in roughly 720 attacks carried out within the six-month period, averaging about 120 attacks every month. It said the figures translate to approximately 420 Christian deaths monthly and about 14 daily.
The report also stated that the estimated 2,800 Christian abductions averaged around 470 victims each month, or roughly 16 people every day.
According to the organisation, Plateau State recorded the highest number of Christian deaths with about 420 fatalities allegedly linked to Fulani ethnic militias, while Southern Borno recorded around 400 deaths attributed to Boko Haram insurgents. Benue reportedly recorded at least 200 deaths, while Taraba accounted for more than 100 fatalities.
The report added that other deaths were recorded across several states, including Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Imo, Enugu and Abia.
It also claimed that Southern Borno and Southern Kaduna recorded the highest number of Christian abductions, with approximately 600 and 400 victims respectively.
Among those highlighted in the report was an ECWA Church elder identified as Musa Usman, popularly known as Tall Mosee, who was allegedly abducted and later killed after Boko Haram fighters reportedly identified him as the only Christian passenger in a commercial vehicle travelling from Yobe to Borno State.
Intersociety also cited the killing of COCIN Senior Pastor, Reverend Marcus Nyam, who it alleged was among 30 Christians attacked by suspected Fulani militants in Kawel Village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on June 22, 2026.
The organisation further alleged that at least 850 Muslim civilians, mainly from non-Fulani communities in states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger and Kwara, were also killed by armed groups during the same period.
The Nigerian government has not officially responded to the allegations contained in the report at the time of filing this report.
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