Jihadist herdsmen account for 80% of the murders in the southeast; Enugu, IMO is the worst hit states - report

According to the report, the Jihadist groups killed about 300 Christians in the first quarter of 2025 alone. An investigation report showed that the Jihadis Fulani cattlekeepers accounted for an estimated 80% of the murders in the southeastern region of Nigeria. The report of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Remars of Law (Intersociety) states that from an estimated 9800 murders in the region since 2015, more than 8,000 deaths are attributed to Jihadist attacks, with Enugu and IMO states bearing the largest part of the violence. According to the report, the Jihadist groups killed about 300 Christians in the first quarter of 2025 alone. A striking incident occurred on February 2, 2025, in the Nkalaha area of ​​the local government of Ishielu in the Ebonyi state, where at least 20 individuals were allegedly killed in an open attack, according to the report. The report also implied the Nigerian army and accused them of extraordinary murders. The report claims that between January and March 2025, the military was responsible for at least 200 deaths under the pretext of ‘neutralizing’ members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the indigenous population of Biafra (IPOB). “The situation in the southeast has reached an alarming level, with about 600 secret locations identified as operational bases for jihadist militants,” said Emeka Umeabbalasi, chairman of Intersociety. “These groups work on an estimated 1000 places in eastern Nigeria, with an estimated 400,000 illegal small arms and light weapons,” he added. The breakdown of the death toll over the five southeastern states according to the report showed that the state of Enugu recorded Enugu between April 2016 March 2025 1,800 deaths, with major attacks in Ugwu-anyeama, Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi-Nsukka and Nkanu East. Abia State also recorded 2,000 deaths between June 2015 – March 2025, with hotspots, including Uturu, Umunneochi and Isiukwuato. IMO State recorded 2.100 deaths between January 2020 – March 2025, especially in Okigwe, Orlu, Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema. While Ebonyi State recorded between June 2015 – March 2025 1000 deaths, including attacks in Ishielu, Izzi and Ohaukwu, and Anambra State recorded 800 deaths between June 2015 – March 2025, with murder in AWKA North, Dunukofia and Orumba North. The report claims that the boom in attacks began after the inauguration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, accusing his administration of looking at a blind eye on the growing jihadist activities in the region. “In the last decade, more than 9,800 people have lost their lives due to Jihadist violence in the South East, while another 10,500 were killed by military operations aimed at civilians on the basis of ethnic and religious grounds,” the report added. The Nigerian army criticized its operations in the region. “There is a pattern of selective law enforcement,” said a local activist who requested anonymity. “While jihadist groups continue their activities fearlessly, innocent civilians are often considered terrorists and targeted.” The report also emphasized the rise of a coordinated jihadist alliance in Nigeria, which was allegedly formed in Niger state in 2020. The alliance, according to the Intersociety, includes Boko Haram, Iswap, Ansaru and various Fulani militants groups. Despite widespread public screams, there was no official response from the Nigerian government on the claims of the report. Safety analysts warn that the situation in the southeast may continue to deteriorate without urgent intervention.