Nigeria (MNN) — Fulani militias are far and away the biggest Christian killers in Nigeria, says a study from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa.
Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says, “The Fulani [militias] would want to eradicate Christianity.”
The study shows that Fulani militias account for 44 percent of terror killings in Nigeria, more than Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) combined. A staggering 79,323 people died because of terror-related violence in Nigeria from 2019 to September 2025, an average of 36 people per day.
Representative photo of traditional African people groups. Image courtesy of Khalil Musa on Pexels.
Christians have been the disproportionate targets of these attacks. Read this article to learn more about the state of violence in Nigeria.
“More people are killed for their faith in Jesus in northern Nigeria than the rest of the world combined. It has got to be a priority for the Body of Christ to realize what’s going on there,” Kelly says.
The Fulani people trace their heritage back to the original Muslim missionaries in the region, Kelly says. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, and many are peaceful. Nigerian Fulani are 99 percent Muslim and are some of the hardest people to reach with the Gospel. But a few become champions for Jesus.
“When you meet a Fulani who has come to know Christ, they will be passionate about pursuing their people, because they love them in a different way than any of us could possibly love them,” Kelley says.
Kelley also says that Nigeria’s 240 million people are not best thought of as one nation. Rather, we should think of them as part of a distinct people group, of which there are more than 530.
These disciples of Christ are passionately sharing God’s Word in North Eastern Nigeria.
(Image, caption courtesy of Unknown Nations)
“Instead of praying generically over Nigeria, we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to the Fulani, to the Hausa, to the Kanuri. If every Christian said that prayer every day, we will see revival in northern Nigeria,” Kelly says.
Unknown Nations equips ministry leaders with solar powered audio Bibles called Treasures to spread the Gospel to every tribe and people in Nigeria.
“One people group in particular is called the Koma, who a number of years ago were considered unreached,” Kelly says. “Today, not only do they have a strong Christian presence, they are sending missionaries to neighboring people groups as well.”
Pray for an end to the violence against Christians from Fulani militia and other persecuting forces, and pray for the success of cross-cultural missions in Nigeria.
Header image courtesy of Unknown Nations
