Data analysis reveals disproportionate violence against Christians
Written by Stephen Cefas
A recent four-year investigation has shed light on the formidable failures of Nigeria’s security agencies in addressing terrorism across the nation. The report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) paints a bleak picture of rampant violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly focusing on the North Central Belt and Southern Kaduna.
From October 2019 to September 2023, the investigation documented over 55,000 killings, as well as numerous farm attacks and mass kidnappings. Alarmingly, the report highlights the activities of a relatively obscure terrorist group, the Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM), which appears to operate with impunity, carrying out hundreds of mass killings each year in this region.
In total, the report cites 3,007 incidents of extreme violence in the North Central region alone during the study period. Among these incidents were 2,010 murders, 700 abductions, and 297 events involving both crimes.
The data reveals concerning patterns in security operations. While the northeast and northwest regions of Nigeria receive significant attention from security forces, areas in the Middle Belt, where FEM atrocities occur, remain largely unmonitored. This neglect leaves millions of civilians exposed to ongoing violence.
Frans Fjerhout, a senior analyst at ORFA, noted that the desperate pleas for assistance from vulnerable communities have long gone unanswered. Now, the data illuminates the severity of the situation.
The findings are striking. Of the 55,910 individuals killed linked to terrorist groups in Nigeria over the past four years, the Fulani Ethnic Militia accounted for at least 42% of civilian fatalities, a figure significantly higher than the 10% associated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). More specifically, land-based community attacks account for 81% of civilian casualties, disproportionately affecting Christian agricultural settlements through violence, rape, kidnapping, and arson. For every Muslim victim during this period, 2.7 Christians were killed, and in regions where attacks occurred, the casualties for Christian communities were 6.5 times greater than those for Muslim populations.
The report also underscores the alarming rise in abductions, a common feature of Islamist terrorism in the area. The number of abductions surged from 1,665 in 2020 to 7,705 in 2022, before slightly declining to 6,255 in 2023. Christians face a 1.4 times higher likelihood of being abducted compared to Muslims, and this ratio escalates to 5.1 Christians for every Muslim among local populations.
Dr. Gideon Parra Malam, an ORFA analyst, emphasized the deliberate targeting of Christians in these attacks, although he acknowledged that Muslims also suffer greatly. He pointed out that kidnappers often pursue Islamist agendas, noting that the torture and sexual assault of young women not only devastate their lives but also diminish their prospects for normalcy in future relationships and family life.
The humanitarian costs of this persistent violence are staggering. According to the International Displacement Monitoring Center, by the end of 2023, approximately 3.3 million Nigerians will have been forcibly displaced and now reside in temporary camps.
As the Middle Belt continues to suffer, the authors of the ORFA report urge the international community to examine the data closely and gain a deeper understanding of the extensive challenges facing Nigeria. The report serves as a crucial wake-up call, not only for the Nigerian government but also for global stakeholders, underscoring the necessity of a more equitable and effective approach to addressing terrorism throughout Nigeria.
The silence surrounding these widespread atrocities raises grave concerns regarding the Nigerian government’s commitment to equally protecting all its citizens. As the Middle Belt grapples with escalation in violence, the calls for justice intensify, demanding immediate and decisive action to halt the bloodshed and restore peace to this beleaguered region.
