The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) says at least 3,083 Christians were killed and 3,193 abducted in Nigeria between January and August 2026.
In its latest report on attacks released yesterday and signed by the Executive Director of the organisation, Emeka Umeagbalasi and Head, Department of Campaign and Publicity, Chidinma Udegbunam, Intersociety said that 138 Christians were killed and 180 abducted in August alone, with many of the attacks recorded in Plateau and Benue states.
The organisation said it compiled its figures from primary and secondary sources, including information from residents, survivors, and eyewitnesses in affected communities. It also claimed that 437 Christians were killed and 393 abducted across Nigeria in July and August.
“The number of churches attacked or destroyed since July 2009 had risen to an estimated 19,800 as of August 2026,” the organisation said, adding that at least 25 priests and pastors had been killed, abducted or attacked since the beginning of the year.
According to the report, Taraba State recorded particularly severe attacks, with Intersociety claiming that about 230 churches were attacked or destroyed in areas under the Wukari and Jalingo Catholic dioceses between September 2025 and August 2026.
“The attacks had displaced more than 100,000 Catholic worshippers and forced hundreds of communities to flee,” the report said, while also citing figures from the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), which it said reported losing 5,987 members and 753 churches to attacks in Benue State.
Intersociety attributed most of the attacks to what it described as Islamic jihadist groups, including armed Fulani groups and Boko Haram.
The latest Intersociety figures come two months after the organisation claimed that 2,550 Christians were killed and 2,800 abducted between January and June 2026.
Gideon Arinze
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