Four years on, the data has astonished us – and reinforced our fears.
Our findings: Boko Haram and ISWAP (the local ISIS group) carry out only a fraction of civilian killings: just 10%.
A terror group unrecognised outside the country murders far more people
The Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) – a loose network of Fulani Islamist militias – are behind at least 39% of all civilian killings, and probably more. Christian farmers are their special target. ‘Land-based attacks’ – planned invasions of selected villages or homes, and occupation of the land – are their strategy. Communities are chosen; this is jihadist violence.
Overall, 2.7 Christians were killed for every Muslim killed in the data period. Notably, Muslims are also terribly affected by the violence. In states where the attacks occur, proportional loss to Christian communities is far higher. In terms of local populations, 6.5 times as many Christians were murdered as Muslims. As the charity Open Doors notes, a vast flight of poor Nigerians is now underway.
Clarity from chaos: does the truth of Nigeria’s mass murders lie in data? @FdnLeah @Lord_Collins @AndrewmitchMP @USCIRF @RFInstitute https://t.co/r1u4IpkXPj
— Lord (David) Alton (@DavidAltonHL) October 2, 2024