American Christian missionary Alex Barbir has accused Fulani militias of orchestrating widespread killings across parts of Nigeria, alleging that the Federal Government has failed to act and has attempted to suppress what he called a “targeted campaign” against Christians.
Speaking in an interview with US-based CBN News during a recent visit to Nigeria, Barbir claimed, “The Fulani terrorists are massacring Christians across Nigeria, they are taking over land, the Nigerian government are doing nothing about it.” He dismissed claims that Boko Haram was primarily responsible for the violence in certain regions, asserting instead that armed Fulani groups were behind attacks in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Kaduna states.
Barbir further accused authorities of shielding perpetrators and downplaying reports of attacks on Christian communities. “We need to deal with them, the government is not doing anything, they are basically covering them up. They are paying billions to lobby, saying there is no Christian genocide,” he said. He also urged Christians to speak out against the violence, warning against remaining passive: “We need more people, we can’t be Christians and stay on the sidelines.”
The missionary’s remarks follow earlier disputes with the Benue State Government over his plans to rebuild Yelwata village, a community previously attacked by bandits. He criticized a government-provided market blueprint valued at ₦300 million, claiming the project could be completed for less than ₦60 million and alleging that officials were exploiting the suffering of affected residents for personal gain.
Barbir’s statements coincide with recent US legislative efforts to increase accountability for human rights violations in Nigeria. The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, introduced by Representatives Riley Moore (R-West Virginia) and Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), proposes sanctions against Fulani militias and Nigerian officials, including former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, for actions perceived as infringing on religious freedoms.
Rep. Moore emphasized the US commitment to global religious freedom, noting the legislation builds on previous measures such as Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern and the US-Nigeria security framework agreement. Legal experts, including Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom, praised the bipartisan effort for strengthening accountability mechanisms.
Observers note that the proposed law links US security and economic cooperation with human rights benchmarks, signaling a potential increase in international pressure on Nigeria to address sectarian violence. The legislation is currently slated for committee review in the US House of Representatives.
In a related development, the US has confirmed the deployment of 200 troops to Nigeria to provide training and technical support to the country’s armed forces. Nigerian and US officials stressed that the personnel will not participate in combat operations, marking an expansion of bilateral military cooperation as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgent and terrorist groups.
