Report Highlights Surge in Violence and Abductions Across Nigeria

A new report from Open Doors, titled “Nigeria at the Crossroads,” indicates a significant rise in insecurity across Nigeria. Data from the final quarter of 2025 shows 3,415 abductions, a 153% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Civilian fatalities also rose by 51%, with 1,735 deaths recorded. The report notes that militant Fulani groups are currently responsible for more violence than Boko Haram, contributing to a displacement crisis that now affects over 3.7 million people.

While Christian communities remain primary targets, the research highlights that violence increasingly impacts Muslim populations as well. The findings suggest that the relative stability observed between 2021 and 2025 is deteriorating. Jane Boswell of Open Doors International urged the Nigerian government to prioritize security and justice to reverse this trend.

Separately, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) reported that at least 299 Christians were killed and 213 abducted during July 2026 alone. These attacks, concentrated in the Middle Belt, have claimed the lives of clergy and church members, further threatening the long-term presence of Christian communities in northern and north-central regions.