Report: 4,216 Christians Killed in Nigeria in 2026, One Every 86 Minutes

A new report from the U.S.-based aid agency Equipping The Persecuted (ETP) found that 4,216 Christians were killed in Nigeria between January 1 and September 8, 2026. That works out to roughly one death every 86 minutes.

The report focuses on the Middle Belt region, where Fulani-linked militant groups have carried out repeated attacks on Christian farming communities. Researchers say the violence involves burning churches, destroying villages, and killing clergy and worshippers. Survivors are often permanently displaced from their land.

The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, a separate Nigerian advocacy group, reported more than 3,000 Christians killed in the first eight months of 2026 alone.

Among the documented incidents: on August 18, at least 24 Christians were killed in the Bin-Per community of Plateau State, with attackers moving house to house using machetes. In July, attacks in Plateau and Benue states killed at least 25 people, including an infant, prompting mass protests and road blockades. On September 25, a pastor and several other believers were killed while traveling to church.

The ETP report notes that Fulani-linked actors are responsible for more deaths than Boko Haram and ISWAP combined in 2026.

Advocacy groups say the Nigerian government has failed to provide adequate protection. Security forces have been criticized for not intervening even when attacks occur near military checkpoints.

Researchers are calling for intelligence-driven campaigns to dismantle militant networks, including investigations into weapons suppliers and financiers. They also urge the government to facilitate the safe return of displaced Christians to their ancestral lands.