“It must be noted that there is an ongoing Fulani Islamic Jihadism across Africa, responsible for jihadist attacks in Christian dominant countries of Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic… Namibia, Uganda, etc, and Muslim dominant countries of Niger, Chad, Mali, Guinea, Senegal,” Intersociety says in the report shared with ACI Africa.
According to the team of criminologists, lawyers, and security and peace studies experts, Nigeria immediate former President’s era of ‘Commander-in-Chief's above the law license’ on Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen had allowed armed militias to thrive in the West African nation.
The law, they say in reference to the 2015-2023 era of Muhammadu Buhari, had made it a common practice within the security establishments to conceal the identities of the Fulani jihadists when caught in atrocious acts.
The civil rights entity, which revealed massive killings of Christians in Nigeria, notes that among the over 50 armed opposition groups found to be triggering insecurity and other unsafe conditions in Nigeria are the Islamic State insurgents and others linked to Al-Qaeda, numbering over five, including the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Intersociety has also provided evidence that some of the armed groups wreaking havoc against Christian populations in Nigeria are government-allied militias.
The human rights group lists Alhaji Mujahadeen Asari Dokubo, a key political figure in the Niger Delta, who it describes as a “radical Islamist” as one of the government officials rallying militias that have publicly declared war against Christians in Old Middle-Belt, especially Benue and Plateau States and South-East States of Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra.
In Nigeria’s South-East and South-South alone, Intersociety identifies over 20 armed killer entities that have sprung up in just eight years.
The 20 entities, Intersociety says, are “openly or secretly” linked to various State Governments or Federal Government of Nigeria. Openly linked to the Governments of Imo and Ebonyi States, for instance, are the Ebubeagu killer Vigilante Groups formed in April 2021.
In Anambra and Abia, Anambra and Abia Vigilante Groups are engaging in atrocious activities.
In Imo and Ebonyi, the ex-Niger Delta militants are strongly suspected to be part of the killer entities through the instrumentalities of the atrocious Ebubeagu Vigilante Groups.
