Fact sheet Nigeria – Killings in the context of ‘TERROR’ (2020-2025)

The data presented are based primarily on primary data from our local research partners and on secondary ACLED data for Nigeria. Both sources are essential, as neither is exhaustive.Furthermore, ACLED rarely mentions the religious affiliation of fatalities and relies primarily on selected media sources and official reports, which rarely provide such details. Therefore, additional research was needed to break down the ACLED totals by religious affiliation. When this was not possible, the data was marked as “Unknown religious identity.”

Introduction

Nigeria is grappling with a complex security crisis characterized by widespread violence, especially targeting religious groups. From 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2025, research shows that the Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia have been carrying out mass killings, abductions, and torture of Christian civilians with little resistance. Government forces largely failed to intervene, focusing their efforts elsewhere while these attacks continued unopposed.

Nigeria: Key Violence Statistics on Killings (Oct 2019–Sept 2025)

• Total people killed: 79,323 (civilians: 42,033; members of Security Forces or members of Terror Groups: 37,290)
• Attacks with killings: 15,434
• Average: 7 attacks per day involving killings

Religious Group Impact of Killings

• More Nigerian Christian civilians were killed than Nigerians holding other religious affiliations. Amongst the 42,033 civilians killed:
  • Number of Christian civilians killed: 22,835
  • Number of Muslim civilians killed was 10,519
  • Number of African Traditional Religionists killed: 184
  • Religious identity of 8,495 civilians killed remained unknown.
• Actual ratio of Christian civilians to Muslim civilians killed: 2.2
• Proportional ratio of Christian civilians to Muslim civilians killed (adjusted for religious population in the different states): 4.4

Distribution of Killings with Unknown Religious Identity over Other Categories

After distribution of the number of civilians killed with unknown religious identity over the other categories, the new numbers for the 42,003 civilians killed are:

• Distributed number of Christian civilians killed: 28,551
  • Distributed number of Muslim civilians killed was 13,224
  • Distributed number of African Traditional Religionists killed: 258

Patterns of Attack with Killings

• Most civilians were killed during attacks on their communities: 31,573 (75%).

Trends over Time for Killings

• Attacks with civilians killed, especially Christian farmers in the North Central, peaked between April and May, which is the heart of the farming season.
• During this peak, there was considerably less engagement by Security Forces.
• Security Forces concentrated operations in North West and North East, leaving North Central more vulnerable.

Groups Responsible for Killings

• Civilians: Most civilians were killed by Fulani Terror Groups (18,577; 44%) and Unidentified Terror Groups (13,346; 32%). Boko Haram and ISWAP combined were responsible for 4,941 (12%) civilians killed.
• Christian civilians: Fulani Terror Groups were responsible for 53% of all Christian civilians killed; Unidentified Terror Groups for 28%. Boko Haram and ISWAP combined were responsible for 8% of all Christian civilians killed.
• Muslim civilians: Unidentified Terror Groups were responsible for 42% of all Muslim civilians killed; Fulani Terror Groups for 32%. Boko Haram and ISWAP combined were responsible for 16% of all Muslim civilians killed.

Hotspots of Violence with Killings

Violent attacks with killings were concentrated in a limited number of states, and within states in a limited number of LGAs.

• People killed in the Top 5 states over all six years:
  • Civilians killed: Kaduna saw the most civilians killed. The Top 5 states had 53% of the total number of civilians killed in the country.
  • Christian civilians killed: Benue had most killings, followed closely by Kaduna. The Top 5 states had 62% of the total number of Christian civilians killed in the country.
  • Muslim civilians killed: Zamfara had most killings, followed by Borno and Katsina. The Top 5 states had 71% of the total number of Muslim civilians killed in the country.
  • Members of Security Forces killed: Borno had by far most killings. The Top 5 states had 68% of the total number of members of security forces killed in the country.
  • Members of Terror Groups killed: Borno had by far most killings. The Top 5 states had 83% of the total number of members of Terror Groups killed in the country.
• People killed in the Top 10 LGAs over all six years:
  • 21% of civilians were killed in 10 LGAs out of 722 with registered killings of civilians.
  • 31% of Christian civilians were killed in 10 LGAs out of 580 with registered killings of Christian civilians.
  • 26% of Muslim civilians were civilians killed in 10 LGAs out of 396 with registered killings of Muslim civilians.
  • 31% of members of Security Forces were killed in 10 LGAs out of 398 with registered killings of members of Security Forces.

• 39% of members of Terror Groups were killed in 10 LGAs out of 474 with registered killings of members of Terror Groups.

Additional Findings

• ORFA’s research showed that the Fulani Terror Groups are affiliated with FEM (Fulani Ethnic Militia). FEM is an ethno-religious terror group.
• Additional research showed that a significant part of the Unidentified Terror Groups consists of so-called bandit groups. Many of them have a Fulani background and can be considered as affiliated with FEM (see article: ‘Who is behind the violence in northern Nigeria’).
• It follows that the affiliates of FEM were a much larger factor in the violence in Nigeria than Boko Haram and ISWAP combined.

Final Notes

• The number of Muslim civilians killed or abducted has been substantial over the years. Many of them were Hausa Muslim civilians. Those who killed or abducted Muslim civilians were largely the same as those who killed or abducted Christian civilians. This underscores the ethno-religious nature of much of the violence in Nigeria. The religious terrorism of Boko Haram and the like have gradually been ‘overtaken’ by the ethno-religious terrorism of FEM.
• Behind the numbers are devastating realities for many Nigerians. Community attacks not only caused death and kidnapping but also led to severe trauma and economic devastation through the destruction of properties and the loss of land, incurring ransom debts and forced displacement.
• Many Nigerians live in fear, as this text fragment indicates (https://middlebelttimes.com/2025/10/13/the-night-they-come-living-with-fear-in-northern-nigeria/).

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