ORFA Report on Nigeria Violence
Analysis based on 8 articles · First reported Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026
The report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) highlights a severe and under-recognized security crisis in Nigeria, potentially increasing perceived risk for foreign investment and operations within Nigeria. The re-evaluation of the primary perpetrators, shifting focus from Boko Haram and Islamic State – West Africa Province to 'Fulani Terror Groups', could lead to changes in international aid and security strategies, impacting the stability of the region and potentially affecting commodity markets if the violence disrupts production or supply chains.
A six-year investigation by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) revealed that 79,323 people were killed and 34,773 civilians abducted in terrorism-related violence in Nigeria between 2020 and 2025. The report, titled 'Four Times Boko Haram? How the World Misreads Nigeria's Violence,' challenges the common perception that Boko Haram and Islamic State – West Africa Province are the main drivers of insecurity. Instead, ORFA found that groups classified as 'Fulani Terror Groups' were responsible for 44% of civilian deaths and 43% of abductions. The report also highlighted a religious dimension, with Christians being killed at a rate 4.4 times higher than Muslims in affected states and facing harsher treatment in captivity. Frans Vierhout and Steven Kefas, Senior Research Analysts at ORFA, emphasized the consistent patterns of violence and the need for broader recognition of these factors to address Nigeria's insecurity.
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