3,083 Christians killed, 3,193 abducted in eight months – InterSociety 

A report released by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) reveals that at least 3,083 Christians were killed, and 3,193 were abducted in attacks attributed to Islamic jihadist groups across Nigeria from January to August 2026. The findings were disclosed in Enugu on Sunday.

The report also indicates that since July 2009, approximately 19,800 churches have been attacked or destroyed across Nigeria. In the first eight months of this year, 25 members of the clergy, including Catholic priests and pastors, faced fatal violence, abduction, or assault.

The report’s authors include Emeka Umeagbalasi, the head researcher and lead of InterSociety Nigeria; Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, head of Campaign and Publicity; and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, head of the Department of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.

Notably, the months of July and August saw 437 Christian deaths and 393 abductions, according to InterSociety. The organization reported that jihadist Fulani herdsmen and bandits were responsible for approximately 90 percent of the recorded attacks during this period.

August alone accounted for the deaths of 138 Christians and the abduction of 180 individuals, with incidents heavily concentrated in Plateau and Benue states. The report mentions significant fatalities in Plateau, Benue, Adamawa, and Kaduna states, while abductions were reported in Kogi, Benue, Ondo, Imo, Edo, and Enugu states.

The organization noted that a substantial portion of those abducted—about 70 percent—were from the South-East, particularly Igbo individuals traveling along major highways. It highlighted various incidents, including the abduction of a 10-month-old baby and six other Christians in Ndegwu, Imo State, as well as passengers from the National Youth Service Corps who were targeted in Kogi State.

InterSociety asserted that among the 180 Christians abducted in August, around 120 were likely of Igbo descent.

The report further claims a cumulative total of at least 2,550 Christians killed and 2,800 abducted in the first half of 2026, bringing the total for the eight-month period to 3,083 deaths and 3,193 abductions.

Additionally, the organization expressed concern over the attacks on places of worship, estimating that the number of churches targeted or destroyed increased from approximately 19,400 at the start of 2026 to about 19,800 by the end of August. The report cited around 230 churches attacked in Taraba State alone between September 2025 and August 2026, displacing over 100,000 Catholic parishioners.

The impact of the violence has been particularly severe on the Catholic dioceses of Wukari and Jalingo, where 16 priests have reportedly been forced to abandon their pastoral duties and eight parish houses have been destroyed. InterSociety mentioned that the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST) in Benue State has lost nearly 6,000 members and 753 churches due to attacks by armed Fulani groups. Similarly, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) reported losing more than 8,600 members and hundreds of worship centers to Boko Haram attacks in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba states, with the number of EYN members killed in jihadist violence now estimated at about 21,000.

InterSociety has called on the Nigerian government and security agencies to take immediate measures to protect vulnerable Christian communities, their places of worship, and travelers using major roadways. The organization categorized its report as addressing attacks it views as religiously motivated and linked to jihadist groups while also examining potential involvement from armed state actors.

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