By Jude Agboola
Escalating religious violence in Nigeria, characterized by targeted attacks from extremist groups and militant herdsmen, has caused mass displacement and significant casualties, with Christian communities heavily impacted.
This is the case of Mr. Emmanuel Olamide Akinbo and his wife, Mrs. Damilola Akinbo, who have been heavily subjected to serious persecution, intimidation, and violence by suspected militant Fulani herdsmen for identifying themselves as Christians.
The whole drama became pronounced in 2020 after Mr. Akinbo bought an acre of farm within Omiyiola village, Ogun State. However, in 2021 the situation became tense due to the frequent encroachment of their farmland by armed Fulani herdsmen, who repeatedly called him a “Kafiri” (meaning infidel) each time he was confronted.
On May 20, 2021, the marauding beast of the night violently and physically attacked Mr. Akinbo, stabbing him while he was attempting to defend his land.
Despite reporting the attack to the village head, nothing was done to provide adequate safety and protection for Mr. Akinbo. On June 18, 2021, the armed Fulani herdsmen demonstrated their daredevil action when they killed a police officer and abducted four Chinese nationals along the railway site.
Mr. Akinbo’s life became a major threat after the deadly Fulani herdsmen, for the umpteenth time, invaded his land on July 7, 2021, assaulting an employee and issuing direct death threats linked to his religious identity.
By November 2021, the attackers had escalated their actions further by destroying his means of livelihood, including poisoning fishponds, killing livestock, and setting fire to the farm.
Fearing for their lives, the family fled to Abeokuta. However, the threats persisted beyond their initial relocation. Within days of their arrival, Mrs. Akinbo was reportedly ambushed and shot while traveling. Despite relocating again to Ibadan, the family believes they were tracked by their persecutors. In February 2022, their guard dog was killed, an act they interpreted as deliberate intimidation and evidence of continued surveillance.
These events indicate that internal relocation within Nigeria did not provide effective safety or protection, as the threats followed the family across multiple locations. The risk to the family remains ongoing. On 7 January 2026, it was reported that Mr. Akinbo’s sister was assaulted at the remains of his former property by individuals seeking information about his whereabouts.
This incident suggests that the perpetrators continue to actively target the family despite their absence from the country. Mr. Akinbo has been warned that any return to Nigeria would expose him and his family to an immediate and serious risk of harm, including the possibility of death, due to their religious identity and prior targeting.
This case highlights broader concerns regarding religious persecution, insecurity, and the inability of state authorities to provide effective protection in certain regions of Nigeria. The experiences of the Akinbo family underscore growing concerns among international observers regarding security, religious freedom, and the protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas. As their legal proceedings continue, their experience contributes to increasing calls for greater scrutiny and intervention in regions affected by persistent violence and instability.