No fewer than 3,083 Christians were killed and 3,193 abducted in attacks allegedly carried out by Islamic jihadist groups across Nigeria between January and August 2026, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, InterSociety, has said.

The organisation, in its latest report released in Enugu on Sunday, also alleged that at least 19,800 churches had been attacked or destroyed in Nigeria since July 2009, while 25 Catholic priests, pastors and other Christian clergy were killed, abducted or otherwise assaulted between January and August this year.

The report was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, criminologist and graduate of Security Studies, and Lead Researcher and Head of InterSociety Nigeria; Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Barrister-at-Law and Head, Department of Campaign and Publicity; and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Barrister-at-Law and Head, Department of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.

According to the report, July and August alone accounted for 437 Christian deaths and 393 abductions.

InterSociety said its figures were compiled from primary and secondary sources, including accounts from residents, survivors and eyewitnesses in communities affected by the attacks.

It alleged that jihadist Fulani herdsmen and jihadist Fulani bandits accounted for about 90 per cent of the attacks recorded during the period.

The organisation said 138 Christians were killed and 180 abducted in August alone, with many of the attacks concentrated in Plateau and Benue states.

It said the August killings included scores of deaths recorded in Plateau, Benue, Adamawa and Kaduna states, while several abductions occurred in Kogi, Benue, Ondo, Imo, Edo, Enugu and other states.

InterSociety also claimed that about 70 per cent of the Christians abducted in August were from the South-East, particularly Igbo travellers using major interstate roads.

It cited the abduction of passengers travelling towards Lagos and Abuja in Kogi, Benue and Ondo states, as well as the kidnapping of Christian residents in Imo and Enugu states.

Among those it identified as victims were a 10-month-old baby and six other Christians abducted at Ndegwu in Imo State, as well as passengers and National Youth Service Corps members travelling through Kogi State.

The group said 120 of the estimated 180 Christians abducted in August were likely to have been Igbo.

InterSociety further claimed that at least 2,550 Christians were killed and 2,800 abducted between January and June 2026.

With the July and August figures added, it put the eight-month total at 3,083 deaths and 3,193 abductions.

The organisation said the attacks had also taken a heavy toll on Christian places of worship.

It estimated that the number of churches attacked or destroyed since July 2009 had risen from about 19,400 at the end of 2025 to 19,700 by June 2026 and approximately 19,800 by the end of August.

According to the report, at least 230 churches in parts of Taraba State had been attacked or destroyed between September 2025 and August 2026, while more than 100,000 Catholic parishioners were allegedly displaced.

It said about 200 Christian villages had also been sacked in the affected areas, forcing residents to flee their homes.

InterSociety said the situation had particularly affected the Catholic dioceses of Wukari and Jalingo, alleging that 16 priests had been forced to flee their pastoral duties and that at least eight parish houses had been razed.

It also cited the Universal Reformed Christian Church, NKST, which it said reported the loss of 5,987 members and 753 churches to attacks by armed Fulani groups in Benue State.

Similarly, the organisation recalled that the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, EYN, had previously reported losing more than 8,600 members and hundreds of worship centres to Boko Haram attacks, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba states.

InterSociety estimated that the number of EYN members killed in jihadist violence had subsequently risen to about 21,000, adding that the figures represented its assessment of religiously motivated violence and were based on its definition of jihadist attacks by groups it identified as Islamic extremist organisations.

It called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable Christian communities, places of worship and travellers on major highways.

The organisation said its report covered attacks it considered religiously motivated and perpetrated by jihadist groups. It said the report also examined what it described as the alleged involvement of, or support by, armed state actors.

Amnesty International has raised the alarm over the continued captivity of 37 worshippers abducted during raids on churches in Southern Kaduna, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to adequately protect citizens from recurring attacks, abductions and killings.

This comes despite assurances by President Bola Tinubu’s administration that it is doing everything possible to protect citizens and secure the release of abductees.

The rights organisation on Monday, said the victims were abducted during Easter Sunday worship on April 5, 2026, in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and have remained in captivity for five months.

Amnesty International said the incident was one of several attacks demonstrating what it described as the “utter failure of Nigerian authorities to protect the people.”

It said the prolonged captivity of the worshippers had been compounded by worsening conditions, with three of the 11 people abducted from Awon community reportedly dying in captivity within the week.

According to the organisation, a woman identified as Joy Samuel died on August 28 after giving birth in what it described as a deplorable condition. The baby she delivered also died.

It added that Mr. Yusuf Bawa, 34, and his five-year-old son also died in captivity as a result of severe illness and hunger.

“Three of the 11 people abducted from Awon community have died in captivity this week. A woman Joy Samuel died on 28 August, after giving birth in a deplorable condition. The baby she delivered also died. Mr. Yusuf Bawa 34, and his 5-year-old son have also died as a result of severe illness and hunger,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation said the deaths and illnesses suffered by the abducted persons reflected the harsh conditions and abuses they were allegedly being subjected to while in captivity.

“Deaths and severe illness these people are facing in captivity show the atrocities they are being subjected to,” it said.

Amnesty International further alleged that the victims were being subjected to repeated threats, starvation, sexual violence, beatings and other forms of degrading treatment.

“While in captivity, the abducted persons are always repeatedly threatened to be killed, starved, women and girls raped, beaten and dehumanized in so many ways,” the organisation said.

The rights group also expressed concern over the wider security situation in Southern Kaduna, saying recurring attacks, abductions for ransom and killings had continued to disrupt the lives of residents.

It said the insecurity had created a climate of fear that was affecting farming, education and other aspects of social life in communities across the region.

“Recurring attacks, abductions for ransom, and killings are continuing to make life a hell in many parts of southern Kaduna. A climate of fear is affecting agricultural activities, education and other aspects of social lives of the people,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation said the continued captivity of the worshippers underscored the need for the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to protect civilians and secure the release of people held by armed groups.

Amnesty International called on the government to fulfil its national and international human rights obligations by taking urgent steps to secure the safe release of the abducted worshippers.

“The Nigerian government must deliver on its national and international human rights obligations by immediately redoubling efforts to ensure the safe release and return of not only the 37 worshippers abducted in Kachia LGA, but also all people held captive by gunmen across Nigeria,” it said.

The organisation’s concerns come as communities in Southern Kaduna continue to face security challenges, with attacks and abductions threatening livelihoods and access to education while leaving families of victims in prolonged uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.

Recall that In April, Ariko community was plunged into mourning on Easter Sunday when suspected terrorists launched coordinated attacks on two churches, First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, killing at least seven worshippers and abducting several others.

Confirming the attack, the Councillor representing Awon Ward, Mark Bawa, said heavily armed assailants had stormed the area during early morning services.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Anambra State Commissioner of Police over the alleged unlawful arrest and four-day detention of a woman by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, formerly known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

RULAAC, in a letter signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, dated September 5, alleged that Ms. Nwosu Chikamso Jennifer was arrested on August 31, 2026, not over an offence linked to her but in connection with the police search for her brother, who is reportedly wanted over an alleged murder case.

According to the organisation, Nwosu alleged that she was detained for four days and was expected to produce her brother despite not being accused of complicity in the alleged offence.

The organisation said Nwosu further alleged that she was released on September 3 after ₦600,000 was paid, with the payment allegedly described as being for “administrative bail.”

RULAAC said no receipt or acknowledgement was reportedly issued for the payment.

The complainant also alleged that her mobile phone was seized by the police and retained without a seizure form or property receipt.

The organisation identified the investigating officer in the matter as Mr Odoh Kingsley of RRS Awkuzu.

RULAAC said Nwosu had been directed to report again on Monday, September 7, 2026, but was apprehensive that she could face renewed detention or further demands for money.

The rights group therefore called on the Commissioner of Police to urgently intervene and verify the allegations before Nwosu’s scheduled appearance at the police facility.

RULAAC described the alleged arrest and detention of Nwosu over her brother’s alleged offence as a possible case of “arrest by proxy” or “arrest in lieu.”

The organisation argued that arresting a person merely to compel the surrender of a relative raises serious constitutional and human-rights concerns.

“If the claims are substantially correct, the actions complained of would raise grave legal and human-rights concerns,” the organisation said.

“Arresting and detaining a person merely to compel the surrender of a relative amounts to arrest by proxy or arrest in lieu, a practice expressly prohibited by Nigerian law.”

RULAAC also raised concerns about the alleged four-day detention, saying that holding a person beyond the constitutionally permissible period without taking the individual before a court could violate legal safeguards on arrest and detention.

It further described the alleged ₦600,000 payment as “particularly disturbing,” stressing that police bail is free.

The organisation said the allegations were particularly concerning because they involved the Awkuzu facility, which became notorious for alleged human rights abuses during the era of SARS.

RULAAC said the transition from SARS to RRS should have represented more than a change of name.

“These allegations, if established, inevitably evoke the ugly memories of the abuses historically associated with the former SARS facility at Awkuzu,” the organisation said.

“The transition from SARS to RRS ought to signify more than a change of name; it should represent a decisive institutional break from arbitrary detention, arrest by proxy, extortion and other practices that brought the former unit into disrepute.”

RULAAC said the alleged conduct, if established, would be inconsistent with safeguards contained in the Nigerian Constitution, the Police Act 2020 and applicable criminal justice legislation.

In its requests to the Commissioner of Police, RULAAC asked the police authorities to establish the circumstances and legal basis for Nwosu’s arrest and four-day detention.

It also demanded an investigation into the alleged ₦600,000 payment, including determining who allegedly demanded or received the money.

The organisation requested that the money be refunded if it was found to have been unlawfully collected.

RULAAC further asked the police to establish the legal basis for the seizure and continued retention of Nwosu’s phone and ensure that any property retained for investigative purposes is properly documented.

It also urged the police to ensure that Nwosu’s scheduled appearance on September 7 would not result in further arbitrary detention, intimidation or unlawful financial demands.

The organisation asked the police to ensure that Nwosu was not held responsible for producing her brother or punished for his alleged conduct without evidence establishing her own involvement in an offence.

It also called for disciplinary or other appropriate action against any police officer found to have acted unlawfully.

The rights organisation stressed that it recognised the responsibility of the police to investigate serious crimes, including murder allegations.

It said its intervention was not intended to obstruct the investigation into Nwosu’s brother.

“Nothing in this intervention is intended to obstruct any lawful investigation,” RULAAC said.

“Our concern is simply that the investigation must be conducted within the bounds of the law and that no citizen should be deprived of liberty or subjected to financial demands merely because the Police are seeking a relative.”

The organisation urged the police command to respond to the complaint and disclose the steps taken to address the allegations.