Fulani Christian leaders and converts in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are calling for greater recognition of peaceful Fulani communities, saying they are increasingly trapped between attacks by armed militias and growing public suspicion tied to their ethnic identity. 

“We want people to understand that not every Fulani person is a terrorist,” Buba Aliyu said in an interview with TruthNigeria. “There are Fulani teachers, Fulani soldiers, Fulani police officers, and Fulani Christians living peacefully.” 

Aliyu, who leads Fulbe Outreach International, said his life has been threatened because of his public statements distancing Fulani Christians from armed groups and from Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria. 

“My life is in danger for saying Fulani Christians have no links with Miyetti Allah,” he said. 

Miyetti Allah is a prominent Nigerian socio-cultural and advocacy group that primarily represents the interests of Fulani pastoralists and cattle herders. The group is linked to terrorism and the killings of Christian farmers. The U.S. government has labeled the organization as a terror group. 

The Fulani — also known as Fulbe or Fula — are one of Africa’s largest ethnic groups, living across West and Central Africa. In Nigeria, many Fulani families are traditionally pastoralists, while others work in education, government, business, and the security sector. 

Years of killings, kidnappings, and village raids in parts of Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna states have fueled tensions between farming communities and armed groups widely identified by residents and authorities as Fulani militias. 

Fulani Christians interviewed by International Christian Concern (ICC) said those attacks have also affected peaceful Fulani families who reject violence. 

Aliyu said Fulbe Outreach International has more than 5,000 members engaged in evangelism among Fulani communities across Nigeria and parts of West Africa. He recently stepped down from leadership within the Fulbe Christian Association in Nigeria to focus on missionary work. 

“‘Fulo’ means one Fulani person, while ‘Fulbe’ means many people,” he explained. “Our prayer is for Fulbe Outreach International to spread across Nigeria and West Africa.” 

Originally from Hawul in Borno state, Aliyu said he converted to Christianity in 1995 and began preaching among Fulani communities in 1999 through an outreach known as “Yad da Bishara.” He said the mission later recorded more than 1,000 converts. 

As insecurity spread across northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Aliyu said Fulani Christians began organizing to make their presence more visible. 

“We added ‘Fulbe’ to the Christian Association of Nigeria because we wanted people to know there are Fulani Christians, too,” he said. 

According to Aliyu, the ministry combines evangelism with humanitarian outreach, including distribution of food, clothing, radios, and Christian literature in Fulfulde, Hausa, Arabic, and French. The group also provides veterinary and medical support to pastoral communities. 

Still, he said the ministry operates with limited resources. 

“We need a permanent office, a vehicle to reach remote areas, computers, projectors, cameras, and more workers willing to sacrifice for this mission,” Aliyu said. 

He estimated there are about 10 million Fulani Christians in Nigeria within a broader Fulani population he placed at more than 17 million. 

While acknowledging that some armed groups involved in attacks are Fulani, Aliyu said broad generalizations have affected many peaceful families. 

“Those committing terrorism are not even a quarter of us,” he said. “There are many Fulani seeking peace.” 

In Miango, northwest of Jos, Dauda Isa said he has spent years trying to convince both Christians and Muslims that he should not be judged by the actions of armed groups. 

Isa, a hunter and Fulani Christian convert, said seven members of his family were killed in attacks he attributed to Fulani militias. 

“Seven members of my family were killed,” Isa said. “They also rustled our cows because we are Christians.” 

He said he has no connection with Miyetti Allah and believes the public should distinguish between armed groups and Fulani Christians. 

“People should differentiate between Fulani terrorists and real Fulani Christians,” he said. 

According to Isa, repeated violence in Plateau state has also created mistrust toward Fulani converts inside some Christian communities. 

“Sometimes Christians are not relating with us because of the Fulani militias killing my fellow Christians,” he said. “We are also in danger.” 

Isa said Fulani Christians in rural communities often feel overlooked by humanitarian organizations and faith-based groups responding to violence in northern Nigeria. 

“We are more persecuted, but nonprofit organizations ignore us,” he said. “Faith NGOs are not coming to our rescue because we are minority Christians.” 

Living in isolated rural communities with limited security presence has also raised concerns about safety among Fulani Christian families, he added. 

“We are not protected,” Isa said. 

Despite the insecurity and mistrust, both Isa and Aliyu said they want greater recognition for Fulani Christians who reject violence and continue living in communities affected by years of conflict. 

“We do not want to insult any tribe or religion,” Aliyu said. “We want words that bring glory to God.” 

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