3,550 Nigerians killed within six months – Intersociety

Human rights organization, International Society for Civil Rights and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has alleged that over 3550 Nigerians have lost their lives to activities of jihadists in the last six months. 

Among the figures are 2,550 Christians and 1,050 Muslims murdered in different locations in the country. 

Intersociety said this in a latest report it released on Thursday, wherein it also said 2,800 Christians and 1150 Muslims were abducted within the same period. 

The report made available to journalists was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Lead Researcher, Head of Security, Safety, and Field Data Collection, Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam Esquire, Head, Department of Campaign and Publicity, Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esquire, Head, Department of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, and Chinwe Umeche Esquire, Head, Department of Democracy and Good Governance.

The rights group further claimed that the jihadists destroyed 300 churches, hacked to death 10 Christian pastors and abducted 10 others, and forcibly converted 800 Christian women and children to Islam in jihadists’ captivity. 

Intersociety alleged that “the woeful failure of the Nigerian Government to frontally address these using its domestic body of criminal and procedural laws, or alternatively surrender the country’s jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court by inviting its Chief Prosecutor under International Criminal Law Principle of Complimentarity, is a clear case of self-indictment and culpability beyond defense, as well as unambiguous demonstration of ‘unwillingness and inability’ to act”.

According to the group, “findings from our collected and analyzed data indicated that estimated 2,550 defenseless Christian lives have been lost in the hands of Islamic Jihadists in Nigeria in Jan-June 2026; in a period of 180 days; in about 720 attacks, on average of 120 attacks per month; during which 2800 Christians were also abducted. 

“The breakdown of the estimated 2,550 Christian deaths in Jan-June2026 showed that 420 Christians were killed monthly and fourteen daily. 

“Similarly, the estimated 2,800 abducted Christians translated to abduction of about 470 Christians every month and approximately 16 Christians every day. 

“In the killing of estimated 2,550 Christians, Plateau (Fulani Ethnic Militias/Militants) and Southern Borno (Boko Haram) recorded the highest death tolls with about 420 deaths and 400 deaths respectively; followed by Benue (Fulani Herdsmen) with not less than 200 deaths, Taraba (Fulani Ethnic Militias or Herdsmen and Bandits) with not less than 100 deaths. 

“Other 1,400 deaths are spread across other incident areas including Southern Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Imo, Enugu, Abia, etc. In the estimated 2,800 abducted Christians, Southern Borno and Southern Kaduna recorded the highest number with estimated 600 and 400 respectively.”

Among the Christian clerics said to have been killed within the period are a respected ECWA Church  Elder in Damaturu, Yobe State, named Elder Musa Usman (Tall Mosee). 

“He was traveling to Biu in  Borno State in June, 2026 and boarded a commercial vehicle carrying him and Muslim passengers. 

“Their vehicle was stopped by Boko Haram, during which he was identified as the only Christian in the vehicle. He was abducted and other Muslim passengers were allowed to continue their journey.

“There is also the COCIN Church Senior Pastor, Reverend Marcus Nyam. He was among 30 Christians slaughtered by Fulani Ethnic Militants/Militias on Monday, June 22, 2026 in Kawel Village of Bokkos in Plateau State, during which 18 were killed instantly and 12 others later died from severe injuries sustained,” Intersociety revealed. 

It continued that “no fewer than 850 Muslim civilians were targeted for their faith and ethnicity by Muslim Jihadists largely drawn from Fulani Ethnic Militias/Militants, including former ‘Zamfara Fulani Bandits’ and killed in Jan-June 2026, or in a period of 180 days.

“Many Muslim victims of the attacks are found to belong to members of the non-Fulani civilian population, in Zamfara, Northern Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger, Kwara, among others.