Author: Gist Correspondent

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) has claimed that no fewer than 3,083 Christians were killed and 3,193 abducted across Nigeria between January and August 2026.

In a report released on September 6, the organisation said the figures were compiled from analysed data obtained from primary and secondary sources on what it described as religiously motivated attacks.

According to the report, 2,550 Christians were killed and 2,800 abducted between January and June, while attacks recorded in July and August pushed the figures to 3,083 deaths and 3,193 abductions.

InterSociety said 138 Christians were killed and 180 abducted in August alone, with many of the incidents occurring in Plateau and Benue states.

The organisation alleged that armed Fulani groups were responsible for about 90 per cent of the attacks, adding that its findings were corroborated by residents, survivors and eyewitnesses in affected communities.

The report also claimed that about 19,800 churches had been attacked or destroyed nationwide since July 2009, while at least 25 Catholic priests and Christian pastors had been attacked, abducted or killed since the start of 2026.

It further alleged that more than 230 churches were attacked or destroyed within the Wukari and Jalingo Catholic diocesan areas of Taraba State between September 2025 and August 2026, displacing over 100,000 parishioners and forcing about 200 Christian communities to flee.

InterSociety also cited the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) and the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), claiming the two denominations had collectively lost more than 27,000 members and thousands of churches to insurgent violence since 2009.

The organisation called for urgent measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities and religious institutions, saying the scale of the attacks highlights the need for improved security across affected areas.