The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has released a report detailing alarming statistics on religious killings in Nigeria, particularly in Benue, Plateau, and Kaduna states.

According to the report, over 8,200 defenseless Christians were murdered between January 2023 and January 2024, while more than 8,000 were abducted. Intersociety alleges that Nigerian security agencies are complicit in these atrocities.

The report states that since the Boko Haram uprising in July 2009, Nigeria has witnessed over 150,000 religious-related deaths, including:

* At least 100,000 defenseless Christians
* 46,000 moderate Muslims killed by radical Fulani Muslims and allies
* 4,000 non-Christian and non-Muslim victims

Direct killings account for approximately 100,000 deaths, while indirect killings from torture and other abuses constitute the remaining 50,000.

Between July 2009 and January 2024, over 19,000 churches and other religious institutions were destroyed or burned down. Additionally, 2,500 Christian schools and other sacred places of learning have been affected.

In the first four months of 2024, an estimated 800 Christians have been killed and 1,000 abducted.

Intersociety identifies Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna as the states most severely impacted by religious violence since 2015. In these areas, an estimated 24,000 people have been killed annually over the past four years.

The report highlights the role of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, who have seized, Islamized, and renamed over 300-400 Christian communities since 2015. This has resulted in the displacement of over 1000 communities and the creation of 2 million Christian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State alone.

Intersociety also condemns the recent actions of the Nigerian military, which opened fire on students protesting attacks by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Plateau State. The report alleges that soldiers allowed the herdsmen to operate freely and sided with them during the protests, resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous students. CONTINUE READING