Mourners attend the funeral of victims of a Fulani attack in Bindi, Plateau State in July 2025. csi
In a response submitted on August 25 to an inquiry from the parliament’s International Development Committee, entitled UK aid to Nigeria: Partnership or paternalism?, the UK affiliate of Christian Solidarity International (CSI) said that the ethnic and sectarian violence that has displaced millions “appears designed to reduce the number of indigenous Christians in the region.”
“We estimate more than 700 villages have been targeted by armed militias since 2009, resulting in over 20,000 killings and countless injuries,” CSI-UK wrote in its submission.
“Inasmuch as the attacks are intended to destroy ethno-religious communities, they may rise to the level of ethnic cleansing or even genocide.”
CSI issued a genocide warning for Nigerian Christians in January 2020.
Mass displacement and the limitations of self-defense
CSI-UK pointed out that many displaced families are unable to return to their homes. Significant parts of Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, and parts of Plateau, Kaduna and Benue states are now under the control of armed Fulani militias. These Islamist groups assert their right to the land by renaming the villages they have overrun and threatening anyone who seeks to return.
“We share concerns of reported government and military complicity, deliberate inaction and lack of political will to disarm the militias,” the submission said. “Perpetrators are rarely arrested or prosecuted, which emboldens them and reinforces a culture of impunity.”
This government inaction has led many communities to form their own self-defense groups, though the majority of predominantly Christian villages are unable to defend themselves.
“We have received numerous complaints that the Nigerian military confiscates advanced weapons from these villages, despite the fact the militias continue to be well-armed. The farmers’ cock-and-shot Dane guns cannot compete with a militia armed with AK47s,” it said.
“Escalating attacks and retaliatory violence increase fears of a wider conflict that could spiral, transforming Nigeria into a failed state,” CSI-UK warned.
Support to IDPs to return home
In its submission, CSI-UK said that it endorsed the shift from a paternalistic UK aid model to a collaborative partnership with community-based organizations in Nigeria. But it pointed out that while Nigeria possesses abundant resources and immense potential, its development is hindered by fundamental structural issues that include corruption and security challenges.
“Simmering ethnic and religious tensions, wealth disparities, a brain drain of talent and vulnerability to climate change are all symptoms of a deeper constitutional problem,” according to the submission.
The UK should encourage a genuine and inclusive overhaul of the country’s governance, which would allow all Nigerians to find common ground and a shared vision for the future.
The UK-Nigeria strategy must also include development assistance to displaced populations in the Middle Belt, who are typically underserved compared to victims of terrorism in Borno State, according to CSI-UK.
“Aid should encompass support for people’s safe and dignified return to their farms and villages,” the submission concluded.
The situation in Nigeria is the subject of the latest CSI podcast. You can listen to it here.
