Nigeria continues to face an escalating security crisis, with a notable increase in violence, particularly targeting religious communities.
The recent report from the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) reveals alarming statistics over four years (October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2023), documenting 55,910 deaths in 9,970 attacks, and the abduction of 21,621 individuals in 2,705 incidents.
The violence disproportionately affects Christians, with 16,769 Christian deaths compared to 6,235 Muslims, highlighting a 2.7:1 ratio, which rises to 6.5:1 when adjusted for regional religious demographics.
The Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM), a lesser-known but deadly group, is identified as a significant perpetrator of these atrocities.
Their actions, alongside those of Islamist extremists, remain largely unchecked as military efforts are focused elsewhere, further compounding the humanitarian crisis.
The data underscores the urgent need for decisive action to address the escalating violence and provide protection to vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
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